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NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



BY 

HELEN DERBY ELWELL 



A COMPLETE COURSE OF 
INSTRUCTIONS WITH FORTY 
THREE ILLUSTRATIVE HANDS 

INCLUDING 

THE NEW LAWS OF 1920 

AS ADOPTED BY THE NEW YORK WHIST CLUB 




NEW YORK 

BRENTANO'S 

PUBLISHERS 



>«*. 
^ 



V&& 



Copyright, 1920, by 
BRENTANO'S 

All rights reserved 



DEC 16 1920 
©CU604558 






PREFACE 

My little book is intended to help everybody 
interested in Auction Bridge. It covers the 
entire game from the customary manner of 
cutting the cards to the intricacies of end plays 
and in so simplified a form that the absolute 
beginner may learn to play a good and scientific 
game, the fair player may become proficient 
and the good player better his best. 

I have endeavored to state concisely each 
principle and to impress it with the help of a 
simple illustration. 

Sound principles must of course be formu- 
lated ; but I would beg my students to give at- 
tention to the reasons rather than to the rules 
necessarily stated and to allow common sense to 
dictate the occasions to deviate from these gen- 
eral rules. 

It is a fallacy to imagine that so-called card 
sense is a sine qua non of good Auction play- 
ing. Naturally previous experience gives an 
instinctive facility in perceiving the principles 
underlying a new card game ; but any one with 



vi PREFACE 

the ability to count thirteen and the willingness 
to study and concentrate can play Auction 
Bridge. 

In 1902 I wrote " Elwell on Bridge " and 
seven years later I brought out my first book 
on Auction. The last thirteen years witnessed 
a great evolution in the history of the game and 
Auction has developed fresh significance and 
increasing interest so that in answer to the re- 
peated requests of my pupils to embody in an 
up-to-date book the recent expansion of the 
game I am offering to them and to the general 
public " New Auction Bridge." 

Helen Derby Elwell. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction : The Routine of the Game (for 

Beginners) xi 

The Bid . . ' i 

The One No-Trump Bid 2 

The Partner's Treatment of a No-Trump 

Bid 4 

Choice Between the Trump and the No- 

Trump Bid 8 

The Spade and the Heart Bid 9 

The Partner's Treatment of a Spade or Heart 

Bid 13 

The Shut Out or Pre-emptive Bid .... 16 

The Diamond and Club Bid 19 

The Partner's Treatment of a One Diamond 

or One Club Bid 21 

The Bid by the Second Player . . . . .22 

The Bid by the Fourth Player 23 

The Forced Bid 25 

Continuation of the Bid 25 

The Double 28 

Certain Double 29 

Probable Double 29 

Conventional Doubles 34 

Leads 37 

The Lead Against a Declared Trump . - . 37 

The Lead Against a No-Trump Bid .... 39 

4th Best Lead 41 

Rule of Eleven 41 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Finessing 43 

Trump Management (Declarant) 53 

Adversaries' Play of a Trump Hand 60 

Declarant's Play No-Trump 66 

Choice of Suits 69 

Re-Entry 71 

Ducking 75 

Third Hand Play (General) 82 

Against a No-Trump Declaration .... 83 

Unblocking for the Third Hand 84 

General No-Trump Defense 87 

Second Hand Play (General) ....... 89 

Second Hand Plays for Dummy 91 

The Discard 92 

End Plays 93 

Auction Laws 103 

The Etiquette of Auction 133 

Index to Laws 135 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



INTRODUCTION 

THE ROUTINE OF THE GAME 
(FOR BEGINNERS) 

There are four players. 

CUTTING 

A full pack of fifty-two cards is spread face 
downward on the table. 

Each player draws a card. 

The two highest play as partners against the 
two lowest. 

The lowest of all is the Dealer. 

In cutting, the Ace is the lowest and the King 
the highest card. 

When two cards, of otherwise equal value 
are cut, the lowest is a Spade, followed in order 
by the Heart, Diamond and Club. 

THE DEAL 

Before being dealt, the cards are shuffled 
by the Adversary at the Dealer's left, and cut 
by the Adversary at his right. 

It is customary to have two packs of cards, 
xi 



Xll 



INTRODUCTION 



the Dealer's Partner shuffling the one, while 
the other is being dealt. 

OBJECT OF THE GAME 

There are two separate scores to be played 
for — Trick and Honor scores. The score 
pad has a line drawn through the centre to 
separate the two counts, . . . 

Thus 



We 

U 
O 

O 


They 


C/3 

'u 

H 





The object of the game is to score more 
points than the adversaries, the Trick and 
Honor scores included. The respective totals 
are added, and the difference between them is 
the amount won. A total balance is best se- 
cured by winning the Rubber. 



INTRODUCTION xiii 

THE RUBBER 

A Rubber is two games out of three, and the 
winners of the Rubber score 250 points in the 
Honor column. When two games are won 
by the same partners, the third is not played. 

THE GAME 

A game is 30 or more points won by tricks 
alone. Only one game may be won in a single 
deal, but all tricks made in excess of 30 points 
are scored. 

THE BID 

The Dealer has the first right to bid or de- 
clare to win one or more tricks (over six) with 
any one suit as trumps, or with no trump at 
all: which means that the best card of a suit 
wins the trick. 

TRICK VALUES 

Each trick over six (which is a book) counts : 

When A are Trump 9 

When V are Trump 8 

When ♦ are Trump 7 

When * are Trump 6 

When there is Xo Trump 10 



xiv INTRODUCTION 

The bid passes around the table in the order 
of the deal from right to left. 

Any player may elect to make " No-Bid " 
(or pass). When all four so decide, the next 
player at the left deals. 

When a bid is made, the next player may 
pass, bid or double; but each succeeding bid 
must be for a higher number of tricks, or for 
the same number of tricks at a higher value. 
Bids, No-Bids and Doubles thus continue un- 
til three players in succession have passed (or 
said "No"). 

Any player may bid a suit previously bid, 
provided he contracts for a greater number of 
tricks; and a player is privileged, in regular 
turn, to enter the bidding after he has passed. 

THE DOUBLE 

At any time during the bidding, a player 
may use his turn to double an adversary's bid ; 
which means he will play against that bid at 
double the value and bet that it cannot be made. 
The bidder or his partner in turn, is at liberty 
to redouble, which makes each trick four times 
its original value. 

When the bidder makes the number he con- 
tracted for, he scores below the centre line on 



INTRODUCTION xv 

the score pad the value of every trick (over 
six) that he has made. When the bidder does 
not make his contract, the adversaries score 
above the line 50 points for each trick the bid- 
der failed to make, and the bidder cannot score 
at all below the line. 

When the contract has been doubled and the 
bidder makes it, he scores his tricks below the 
line at the doubled value; and in addition, he 
scores above the line 50 points for each trick 
he makes in excess of his contract. 

When the bidder does not make the doubled 
contract, the adversaries score 100 points above 
the line for each trick the bidder has failed to 
make. 

THE RE-DOUBLE 

When the bid is re-doubled and the bidder 
makes his contract, he scores the tricks made 
below the line at four times the value; and 
scores above the line 100 points for the con- 
tract, and 100 points for each trick in excess of 
the contract. 

When the bidder does not make his re- 
doubled contract, the adversaries score 200 
points above the line for each trick the bidder 
failed to make. 



XVI 



INTRODUCTION 



A double or re-double reopens the bidding; 
and any player may change to a higher bid 
until three players have passed. 

HONORS 

An additional score called the Honor score 

is credited to those to whom the Ace, King, 

i Queen, Jack and 10 of the Trump suit were 

\ dealt or at No-Trump to the original holders 

of the Aces. 

HONOR VALUES 



At No-Trump 




3 Aces Between Partners 

4 « « 

4 in one Hand 


count 30 
40 
100 


Always scored 
above the line. 


When Trumps are 


* 


V 


♦ 


* 




3 Honors Between Partners 

4 « 

5 " 

4 " in One Hand 

4 " " " " and 

the 5th in Partner's 

5 Honors in One Hand 


18 
36 

45 
72 

81 
90 


16 
32 
40 
64 

72 
80 


14 
28 
35 
56 

63 
70 


12 

24 
30 
48 

54 
60 


or value of 2 tricks 
" " " 4 " 

" " " 5 " 
a a „ 8 „ 

« u a tt 
" " " 10 " 



Little Slam (winning 12 of the 13 tricks) adds 50 

points above the line. 
Grand Slam (winning all 13 tricks) adds 100 points 

above the line. 
Doubling does not affect the Honor or Slam values. 



INTRODUCTION xvii 

THE DECLARANT 

A Declaration is final when three successive 
players have said " No." The player who wins 
the final bid becomes the Declarant. As be- 
tween partners the one who first mentioned 
the particular declaration which finally wins 
is the Declarant ; and the player at his left be- 
comes the Leader. 

THE DUMMY 

As soon as a card has been led, the Declar- 
ant's partner places his hand face up-ward on 
the table and becomes the Dummy. The 
Declarant plays both hands. 

THE TRICK 

When all four players have played on the 
card led, it constitutes a trick, and is gathered 
in by the winners. In playing, the Ace is high 
and the Deuce is low. Each player must fol- 
low suit; but when he has no card of the suit 
led, he may either trump or discard. 

THE REVOKE 

When a player has a card of the suit led, 
and does not follow suit he has revoked; and 



xviii INTRODUCTION 

must pay a penalty (see law 57). It is the 
right of any player including Dummy to en- 
deavor to prevent his Partner's revoke by ask- 
ing him when he fails to follow suit : " Have 
you no (Spade), Partner ? " Dummy is not 
subject to the revoke penalty. 



NEW 
AUCTION BRIDGE 



THE BID 

The aim of the bid is to clearly specify the 
character of the hand; and its object to attain 
the best declaration for the combined hands. 

Generally, a One No-Trump bid shows scat- 
tered strength. 

A One Spade or One Heart (Major suits) 
shows particular strength, and a willingness to 
play the hand at the specified make. 

A One Diamond or One Club (Minor suits) 
shows high cards strength, invites the Part- 
ner to make a better declaration, and is indica- 
tive of an advantageous lead. 

A high, or Pre-emptive bid, conveys a de- 
sire to suppress all other bidding and shows a 
lack of one of the high Honors in the suit 
named. 

A No-Bid is to some extent a warning; but 
it does not preclude the possibility of some 
slight strength or of a long, weak suit. 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



THE ONE NO-TRUMP BID 

The One No-Trump bid, in addition to its 
obvious advantages of precluding an adverse 
One No-Trump and One suit call, and of- 
fering the possibility of game with the fewest 
number of tricks, is of greater informatory 
value than any other. It assists the Partner's 
subsequent bid and directs his double of the 
adverse call. 

A One No-Trump declaration should be 
based on an average hand, in which the strength 
is so distributed that three suits are protected. 

An average hand contains the equivalent of 
one Ace, one King, one Queen, one Jack and 
one 10 (the proportion of the four of each of 
these Honors presumably allotted to each of 
the four players). Presupposing this distribu- 
tion, the Declarant's facility in seeing the two 
hands in combination will usually secure the 
odd trick. 

Due to the proportionate relation of the 
Honor and the Game values, Aces are not 
essential to the No-Trump bid; but their lack 
must be supplied by equivalent strength in 
other Honors. Neither is it necessary to have 
protection in all four suits. The fact that 



THE BID 3 

one suit lacks Honors increases the chance that 
the Partner will supply this need. 

It is preferable, although again not essential, 
that the hand contain some strength in Dia- 
monds and Clubs, as the opponents are more 
likely to declare the Major than the Minor suits 
over the No-Trump call. 

EXAMPLES OF THE ONE NO-TRUMP BID 



4b x x 




41 x x x 


¥ A J x 




V A J io x 


♦ A K x x 


x 


♦ Q io x x 


* Q J x 




* K Q 


A J 10 x x 




A K J 9 x 


V 9 




V X X X 


♦ K J x 




♦ K Q io 


* A Q J x 


X 


* Q J io 



x — means a small card. 



SUMMARY 

Bid One No-Trump with an average hand 
protected in three suits. 

An average hand contains the equivalent of 
one Ace, one King, one Queen, one Jack and 
one io. 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



THE PARTNER'S TREATMENT OF A 
NO-TRUMP BID 

It is evident that the ultimate value of the 
One No-Trump bid depends on the Partner's 
ability to grasp the information conveyed, and 
to augment his own hand with the strength 
requisite for the No-Trump call. This may be 
conservatively estimated as three tricks dis- 
tributed among three different suits. The 
chances for assistance in any one particular 
suit are, therefore, three out of four. 

When there is no intervening call, and the 
Partner's hand lends general assistance to the 
No-Trump bid, he should naturally allow the 
declaration to stand; but the call should be 
changed with such particular suit strength as, 
augmented by three tricks, would offer a safer 
chance for game. In fact, strength which is 
centered in a Spade or Heart suit demands a 
change of bid; while that centered in a Dia- 
mond or Club suit, which would at the same 
time aid a No-Trump, calls for a change only 
at an advanced score. 

The Partner's overbid of a No-Trump call 
is likewise expedient, as a protective measure, 
with a very weak hand containing a long suit 



THE BID 5 

(five or more cards). Under these conditions, 
both the No-Trump and the increased Trump 
contract are improbable of fulfillment ; but the 
Trump length lends some value to an other- 
wise worthless hand ; and, being less vulnerable 
to attack than is the weak No-Trumper, is 
more apt to be overbid by an Adversary ; which, 
after all, is a desirable solution of the difficulty. 

Since it becomes the Partner's duty to over- 
bid both as an aggressive measure to increase 
game probability, and as an expedient to 
minimize loss, the motive should, when possi- 
ble, be clearly defined. Thus, in Examples I 
and 2, the decided strength should be shown by 
a Three Spade and a Four Heart bid. 

A Two Diamond or Two Club overbid at a 
love score indicates weakness. 

The meaning of a Two Heart or Two Spade 
change may admit of either construction. 
When the original bidder is in doubt, he should 
revert to the No-Trump call, only when his own 
weakest suit has been selected; and should 
rarely overbid the Adversary until he has as- 
certained, from his Partner's subsequent 
" Say," the character of the take out. 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



HANDS WITH WHICH THE PARTNER 

SHOULD OVERCALL THE ONE 

NO-TRUMP BID 



A K Q J 


10 X X 


A 


K Qx % 


V Q x x 




V 


A K Q x x x 


♦ X X 




♦ 


X X 


♦ X X 




* 


X X 


3 






4 


A io x x 


XXX 


A 


9 x x x 


V J x X 




V 


A J io x x 


♦ X X 




♦ 


X X 


* X X 




* 


X X 



When the One No-Trump declaration has 
been overbid by an Adversary and the Partner's 
hand does not admit of a Trump call, the real 
pitfall of the No-Trump bid is reached. It is 
difficult to make advanced No-Trump contracts 
against correct adverse bids implying, as they 
do, re-entries as well as a suit. 

The Partner's raise of a No-Trump bid pri- 
marily signifies a protection in the suit bid ; and 
must, moreover, imply the nucleus of a No- 
Trumper; namely an average hand; differing 
from the original One No-Trump, only in the 
distribution of Honors; these may be confined 



THE BID 7 

to two suits, and in fact are more helpful when 
centered. 

A bid by the Opponent at the Partner's left 
is often forced, as indicative of a lead; and, 
always presupposing a sure trick in the adverse 
suit, may be overcalled with somewhat less than 
average strength. 

The safety of a protected King or Queen de- 
pends upon whether the hand containing it play 
before, or after, the opposing bidder. With 
the bidder at the right, the protection is usually 
right. 



EXAMPLE OF THE INFORMATORY VALUE 
OF THE ONE NO-TRUMP BID 



* A K 9 
¥ 10 6 2 

* Q8 5 

* K Q 4 


8 


A io 3 

V 98 7 5 43 

♦ K32 

* 9 6 


Y 
A B 

Z 


* J 6 2 
V A 

* A J 10 

* 53 2 


t 
< 


* Q 7 5 4 
f K Q J 
► 6 
fr A J 10 


[ 
87 



9 7 4 



8 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

Z — " One No-Trump." A — " No. ,, 

Y — " No." B — " Two Diamonds." 
Z_"No." A— "No." Y— "Two 
Spades." 

Y does not protect Diamonds. The 
maker is at his left. As Z's One No- 
Trump bid shows three protected 
suits, Y infers that Z holds at least 
three Spades including the Queen. 

SUMMARY 

Infer an average hand and three tricks. 

With general strength let the bid stand. 

Change to any Trump bid that offers game 
probability. 

Change to a fair five card Major suit bid. 

With a worthless hand, change to any long 
suit (five or more cards). 

To raise a No-Trump, you should hold 
average strength as well as protection in the 
Adversary's Suit. 



CHOICE BETWEEN THE TRUMP AND 
NO-TRUMP BID 

Notwithstanding the numerous advantages 
accruing from the One No-Trump bid, it is an 



THE BID 9 

undoubted fact that a Trump bid which, with 
ordinary assistance, would win game is much 
safer and, therefore, preferable to the No- 
Trump call. 

When there is a question between a No- 
Trump bid and a Spade or Heart declaration 
with a fair five card suit, the preference should 
be given to the suit call. 

When, however, the choice lies between a No- 
Trump and a Diamond or a Club bid, the No- 
Trump call presents better game probabilities; 
requiring three tricks as against five. It is 
only at an advanced score, or with exceptional 
length, that the Club or Diamond declaration 
should take precedence over the No-Trump 
bid. 

SUMMARY 

A five card Major suit bid is better than a 
No-Trump. 

A No-Trump is usually preferable to a Dia- 
mond or Club bid. 



THE SPADE AND THE HEART 
BID 

To bid either of the Major suits, the hand 
should be worth five tricks and should usually 



10 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



contain five Trumps ; but four Trumps includ- 
ing three of the top Honors is the minimum 
number for the call 

While high Honors are always desirable, 
Hearts and Spades may be profitably bid from 
length without the Ace and King; provided 
Honors in side suits supply sufficient value for 
the call. 

The computation of the value of a Trump 
hand is essential to correct bidding; and the ap- 
proximate worth of a hand is easy to estimate. 

To ascertain the worth of a Trump hand, 

assume a normal distribution of the remaining 

cards, and take from the hand a small card for 

each lacking Ace, King and Queen (to which 

the hand must follow suit). The remainder 

is its value. 

ESTIMATED VALUE AND LOSS IN TRUMP 
HANDS 



Value 


Hand 


Loss 


9' 


' i 

4 
o 

.4 


& A 

V A Q J io 2 

♦ Q 

* Q J 9 864 




I 
I 

2 


-A 


8- 


4 



3 
i 


AAQJ76 

V 8 

♦ A Q 72 

* K 9 2 


I 
I 
I 

2 j 


^5 



THE BID 



11 



Estimated Value and Loss in Trump Hands 

Continued 



r* 


4 





.3 


A Q J 9 7 6 5 
^ 

♦ 9 8 2 

* A Q io 8 


2^ 



3 
i ^ 


>6 


6< 


i 

5 





A A io 

¥ A Q J io 3 2 

♦ Q2 

* 8 5 4 


i 
i 

2 

3J 


"7 


6< 




5 
i 




A 7 4 

V K Q io 9 8 6 

♦ A J 7 

* J 3 


2 

I 
2 

2 J 


^7 


6< 


' 4 



i 

2 


* K Q J8 3 
V K 

* KQ 

* 9 8 6 4 2 


I 

I 

I 

3. 


► 6 



To bid One, the hand should be worth five 
tricks — to bid Two, the value should be six — 
to bid Three, seven, etc. 

Each increased call by the original bidder 
shows a hand worth one trick in addition to the 
number previously indicated. 

An unusual distribution, or the particular 
combining value with the Partner's hand, may 
turn the scale in either direction; but generally 
this system proves surprisingly accurate. 



12 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

It is based on the probability of one trick in 
the Partner's hand and a gamble for one 
trick. Do not take further chances on the 
Partner's cards. He will raise with two as- 
sisting tricks. 

With four Honors in Trumps, an overbid of 
one trick is justified by the Honor score at- 
tainable. 

Exceptional Trump length such as A K X 
X X X X eliminates the probable loss of a 
card for the Queen. 

Long side suits, which may be established 
and made, add to the strength of a Trump 
hand; lacking suits and singletons may reduce 
the Trumps and, therefore, often decrease the 
value of the bidding hand. 

With a hand which would warrant either 
of two bids (not necessarily of the same length) 
select the more valuable for the initial round, 
and later announce the other. The Partner 
may be unable to raise a bid; but this order of 
bidding offers him a choice without an increase 
of contract. 

SUMMARY 

Bid One Spade or One Heart with five or 
more Trumps and a hand worth five tricks. 
To value a hand give up a small card for 



THE BID 13 

each lacking Ace, King and Queen, and count 
on the remainder. 

Be sure that each raise means an additional 
trick. 

THE PARTNER'S TREATMENT OF A 
SPADE OR HEART BID 

With no intervening bid, the Partner usually 
allows a one Major suit call to stand. 

A change to another Trump bid shows a lack 
of two cards in the suit previously named, and 
strength in the one substituted. A change to 
No-Trump shows decided weakness in the suit 
selected and protection in the other three suits. 

If, after a change, the original Declarant re- 
vert to his initial call, the Partner should ac- 
cept the decision as final. 

When the Partner holds exceptional strength, 
such as 100 Aces or six or seven cards in the 
other Major suit, including top Honors, this 
information should be conveyed by an unneces- 
sarily high bid — a Two No-Trump or a Three 
suit call. 

When the initial Trump call has been over- 
bid and the Partner's hand lends greater help 
than the one trick he is assumed to hold, the 
Partner should support the bid. The essen- 



H NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

tial for this support is two Trumps as well as 
two good assisting tricks. 

A One Major bid usually implies five 
Trumps ; therefore, the Partner should hold two 
to secure the majority. 

Assisting cards are those which will win 
the tricks conceded by the original bidder. 
These are Aces and Kings (not Queens) and 
Trump tricks. 

Trump strength is helpful, but Trump length 
is apt to prove deceptive in appearance. The 
value is negative, as decreasing the number of 
adverse Trumps, rather than positive as in- 
creasing the trick taking value of the hand. 
However, when the hand is void of a suit or 
contains a singleton, Trumps are a great ele- 
ment of strength in the assisting hand. . 

The Partner's first raise implies two assist- 
ing tricks; each subsequent raise means an ad- 
ditional trick. 

VALUE OF ASSISTING TRICKS 

Aces and Kings in Side Suits worth i 
A Singleton Ace in a Side Suit 
Ace, King or Queen of Trumps 
Ace and King of Trumps 
Queen and One Trump 

A Lacking Suit J In a *? and 
A Singleton 1 containing a 
I few Trumps 



ESTIMATE OF ASSISTANCE TO A SPADE 
BID 



Value 


Hand 


Raise 


2- 


r 

I 


I 

o 


* Q 87 
V 8 74 

* K J 7 63 

* J 10 


Once 


3^ 




I 

2 




A 3 2 

V A 4 3 2 

♦ A K 3 2 

* J 10 9 


Twice 


4* 




I 

2 

I 


* 5 4 3 
V 3 

* A K 6 4 

* K J 5 4 3 


Three 
Times 


2 

j 


I 
I 




A Q 4 
V A 8 6 4 

♦ 10 7 6 

* J 10 9 6 


Once 


4^ 



2 
2 



A 8 7 6 
V A 

4b A K 9 4 
* 9 8 7 5 4 


Three 
Times 


4^ 


I 
2 

I 



A A 8 6 s 4 
V 

♦ A 10 8 7 6 

* Q 5 4 


Three 
Times 


i - 


I 
o 





A K 9 8 7 4 
V 43 2 

♦ 6 4 

* J 42 


Pass 



15 



16 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



SUMMARY 

Witn two or more Trumps, usually do not 
change the bid. 

Assist the bid with two or more Trumps 
and two tricks. 

Assisting tricks are Trump tricks and Aces 
and Kings in side suits. 



THE SHUT OUT OR PRE- 
EMPTIVE BID 

A Pre-emptive Bid is one that is unnecessar- 
ily high. 

The object of a high bid is to suppress in- 
formation which would be detrimental to the 
bidder and beneficial to the Adversaries. 

This bid is made (always provided the hand 
has sufficient value to warrant the call) when 
the suit is not thoroughly established, and the 
hand lacks the re-entries necessary to establish, 
and bring in the suit. It shows the fear of a 
No-Trump call. 



THE BID 17 

EXAMPLES OF THE PRE-EMPTIVE BID 

" Three Spades " " Three Hearts " " Three Spades " 
AKQJ9532 *KQ 3 AKJ109762 

*4 VAQJ754 VKQJ4 

♦ KJ10 + 86 48 

*75 * 5 2 * 3 

In bidding for the declaration, there are two 
objects in view : to win game and to bid the 
Adversary up to point where a double can 
safely be made. A Pre-emptive Bid shuts out 
doubling possibilities and eliminates informa- 
tion which may simplify the play of the hand. 
Therefore, it is not used with a thoroughly es- 
tablished Major suit or a generally strong 
hand. 

THIS IS A ONE SPADE BID 

* AK Q9873 
V A K 

* J92 

* 6 

A Pre-emptive raise is made with a hand that 
lends a lacking suit and Trump length, but has 
no high card assistance. 



i8 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF PRE-EMPTIVE RAISE 



* 


742 




V J io 9 7 6 3 


♦ Q86 4 


* 






4k A 6 5 3 


Y 


4» 10 9 8 


V A 

♦ K 9 8 2 


A B 


V 4 
♦ J5 


#9862 


Z 


* AKQ10743 


* 


KQ J 




V K Q 8 s 2 


♦ A 10 3 


* J 5 





Z— "One Heart." 
— " Three Hearts." 



A— "No. 



Y's pre-emptive raise shuts out the Club bid 
and prevents an adverse No-Trump call. The 
raise is justified by the lacking Club suit. 



SUMMARY 

Make an unnecessarily high bid when the 
hand has the value indicated, but would 
neither assist nor break a No-Trump call. 



THE BID 19 

THE DIAMOND AND CLUB BID 

Too many conventions and different conven- 
tions used by different coteries of players are a 
draw-back to any game. Bridge has gone 
through so many evolutions in reaching the 
scientific Auction of today that it naturally still 
carries some such handicap ; but as the Auction 
conventions now in use are largely confined to 
the Minor suit bids and the double, those which 
are confusing and useless can readily be elimin- 
ated. 

The initial Two Diamond or Club bid is of 
this class. It has no value that is not embodied 
in the One bid, and it does shut out the Part- 
ner's One No-Trump and one Major suit call. 

The One bid of a Minor suit at a love score 
is in the nature of encouragement to the Part- 
ner to make a better bid. It indicates high 
cards, the equivalent of Ace, King and Queen 
of the suit. The bid may be made with four 
or five headed by Ace, King and Queen with- 
out other high cards. Also with King Queen 
and others and an outside Ace, and with Ace, 
Queen, Jack and an outside King. 

A Diamond or Club hand, which with ordi- 
nary assistance would admit of game should be 
indicated at once by a Three or Four bid. 



20 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



A call from length without strength should 
be reserved for the second round of bidding. 

At an advanced score, a One Diamond or 
Club bid indicates a suit of precisely the same 
value and length as would a One Spade or One 
Heart call. 



EXAMPLES OF MINOR SUIT BIDS 



"One Diamond " 
A A 7 2 

V 743 

♦ KQJ98 

* 5 2 



" One Diamond " 
A K Q 5 
V J 64 

♦ A 10 9 8 6 4 

* 3 



" Four Diamonds 



* KQ753 

♦ A K Q 10 7 s 

* 7 3 



" One Diamond " 

A 5 4 

V Q 72 

♦ AK Q 754 

* 9 2 



" No Bid " 

* K 2 

V 9 8 7 2 

* Q J 10 7 5 4 

* J 



" Four Clubs : 

* 2 
V 6 

* A Q 10 9 2 

* K Q J 10 6 5 



" No Bid " 
4k 10 3 
V 9 8 

♦ J 5 

* K J 10 6 1 4 2 



"No Bid" 
A 9 8 3 
V J42 

♦ K Q9432 
4» 2 



THE BID 21 



SUMMARY 

Bid One Diamond or One Club with high 
cards — the equivalent of Ace, King and 
Queen of the suit. 



THE PARTNER'S TREATMENT OF A 
ONE DIAMOND OR ONE CLUB BID 

At a love score, the Partner should change a 
One Minor suit bid to any good five card Major 
suit. Failing this, the Minor suit bid amounts 
to a direct invitation to declare No-Trumps, 
but is no excuse for a wild No-Trump bid ; the 
requirement is a trick less than average 
strength, and differs from that of an initial 
No-Trump bid in that the strength may be con- 
fined to two instead of to three suits. 

At an advanced score, a change would indi- 
cate decided strength; or a lack of two cards 
of the suit named and fair strength in the one 
substituted. 

SUMMARY 

Change a One Minor suit call to any bid 
that offers a better chance for game. 



22 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

THE BID BY THE SECOND PLAYER 

After the Dealer's " No Bid "; 

Do not pass with a good hand, there may be 
no subsequent bidding. 

Bid a strong Major suit and this in prefer- 
ance to a No-Trump. 

Bid No-Trump with any average hand as- 
suming only one strong Adversary and there- 
fore increased chances for success. 

Indicate any advantageous lead with a hand 
worth four or five tricks to simplify the Part- 
ner's bid and play. 

After the Dealer's Trump bid: 

Bid a strong Major suit. 

Bid No-Trump with one trick above aver- 
age strength including protection in the ad- 
verse bid. 

Bid No-Trump with the adverse suit twice 
protected and an established Minor suit. The 
Minor suit bid would deny this protection and 
thus shut out the Partner's No-Trump call. 

With a strong split hand, i.e., a hand divided 
four, four, four and one, the shortage being 
in the suit bid, double the adverse call (con- 
vention). 

Bid any established Minor suit, the Partner 



THE BID 23 

may protect the Dealer's suit and need added 
encouragement for a No-Trump call. 

After a No-Trump bid: 

Do not bid a Major suit unless the hand is 
worth six tricks. The lead is secured and a 
weak bid opens up adverse doubling possibili- 
ties. 

With scattered strength above the average, 
bid Two No-Trump or Pass (see Doubles). 

Do not bid an established Minor suit unless 
you can hope to win game. The bid would 
warn the Adversary to change and sacrifice the 
position of Leader against a No-Trump. 

THE BID BY THE FOURTH PLAYER 

All that has been said for the guidance of 
a Partner is applicable to the Fourth Player; 
and he is, moreover, in a better position to ac- 
cumulate information and found his bid on 
sound inference. 

But few points are peculiar to the Fourth 
Player, but these are distinctive. 

Although No-Trump should not be declared 
second to a bidder without protection in the 
suit named, the Fourth Player, with a very 
strong hand and no bid intervening between 



24 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

the Dealer and himself, may call One No- 
Trump without protection in the adverse suit. 
The very strength of the Fourth Player's hand 
precluded a bid by the Second Player, but does 
not eliminate the possibility that he may pro- 
tect the adverse suit. The bid is only One 
and the exceptional strength would prevent 
the Partner's raise with other than the needed 
protection. This One No-Trump call also in- 
vites the Partner's bid of a long, weak suit. 

After the Dealer's One No-Trump call, the 
Fourth Player should bid to direct a lead, ir- 
respective of the counting value of his hand, 
whenever he has a sure re-entry and a long suit 
which could be established with the assistance 
of one Honor. 

When all three Players have passed, it is a 
fallacy to suggest that the Fourth Player should 
not bid unless he can win game. Rather should 
he suppose that the remaining strength is 
equally distributed ; and bid whenever one-third 
of the remaining strength might permit of 
game or of an advanced score; and refuse to 
bid only when, by reopening the bidding, the 
Adversaries might win game or attain an ad- 
vanced score, i.e., when the general strength of 
his hand is not sufficient to more than save the 
game. 



THE BID 25 

SUMMARY 

Make any declaration likely to win game or 
attain an advanced score. 

Indicate an advantageous lead against a No- 
Trump declaration. 

Do not take the Adversary out of a Minor 
suit bid when your suit is not strong and the 
game is not in danger. 



THE FORCED BID 

A forced bid is one which, due to a previous 
announcement, is necessarily higher than would 
have been made as an initial declaration. 

The Fourth Player's bid after the Dealer's 
One No-Trump is usually of this nature; as is 
occasionally a Two Minor Suit bid over a 
One Major call. 

Distinguish between a free and a forced call 
and do not raise the latter with fewer than 
three assisting tricks. 



CONTINUATION OF THE BID 

An explanation of the second round of bid- 
ding would, by reason of the many and diver- 



26 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

gent inferences from each individual " Say," 
confuse the inexperienced bidder. 

Ultimate proficiency is dependent on a 
knowledge of the meaning of each previous bid 
and raise, and on the ability to assemble and 
utilize this knowledge. 

A recognition of the temperament and gen- 
eral skill of the Opponents is also helpful. 

Learn to value a bidding and an assisting 
hand ; and let each raise or bid mean strength in 
addition to that previously shown. 

Remember that the original valuation is now 
affected by the position of the adverse strength, 
and diminished by Kings and Queens on the 
wrong side of the bidder. 

The important point is to determine when to 
avoid useless risks, when to push a hand to its 
utmost value, and when to declare above the 
value of a hand. 

The other sanguine Auction player has no 
chance for success; and even such overbids as 
are due to a commendable desire to force the 
Adversaries up, or to save Rubber, must be 
curbed by a realization of the danger involved 
in the effort. Overbids are more apt to de- 
ceive the Partner than to confound the Ad- 
versary; and, therefore, the overline loss can- 
not be limited with any degree of certainty. 



THE BID 27 

When one Adversary has indicated a strong 
suit and the other has shown general strength 
(No-Trump) it is unwise to continue bidding. 

The hands that admit of sound, spirited bid- 
ding are usually two suits hands — for in- 
stance, Spades and Diamonds held by one side 
as against Hearts and Clubs by the Opponents. 

Flag Flying is always a dangerous proced- 
ure; nevertheless, these two suit hands may 
often be profitably overbid — one trick to save 
Game or two tricks to save the Rubber, but 
having once accepted a loss with this object, do 
not risk another in the course of the same Rub- 
ber. Piled up losses of this nature cannot be 
retrieved. 

After all is said, the good player seldom 
overbids; he nurses the bidding along up to, 
and not beyond, the value of his hand, and is 
ever readv to reap rich harvests from the ad- 
verse overbids. 



THE DOUBLE 

All large Auction scores owe their magni- 
tude to the failures of the Opponents; and full 
too many of these failures are scored un- 
doubted. The player who is successful in 
every double has in reality lost much of the 
value of his hands. 

Skillful use of the double, the most power- 
ful weapon of the game, is based on: 

The Adversaries' inability to escape to a 
safer bid. 

The fact that the double does not jeopardize 
game— -being either certain or "free." 

The relative values of a double and a bid 
for game. 

To simplify these principles, doubles may be 
divided into two classes : 

Certain — (When the contract can undoubt- 
edly be broken). 

Probable — (When there is a good chance 
that the contract may be broken). 



THE DOUBLE 29 

CERTAIN DOUBLE 

When a double is sure of success, the state 
of the adverse score, in connection with game, is 
of no importance. The main consideration is 
one of escape. 

Do not double when it would warn the Ad- 
versaries to change to a safer bid. In other 
words, double only when you hold sufficient 
general strength to double any advanced con- 
tract to which the Adversaries might change. 

Redouble with a certainty only when you 
would gain more points by doubling any prob- 
able change of bid than you can win by secur- 
ing your own contract doubled. 



PROBABLE DOUBLE 

When a double is doubtful, the main con- 
sideration is the state of the adverse game score 
in relation to the contract. 

Double, with any fair chance, when the ad- 
verse contract undoubled is sufficient to win 
game. This is a " free " double. 

Do not double when the fulfilled contract, 
undoubled, is insufficient to win game. 

A doubtful redouble is sometimes resorted 
to to effect a change of bid. A stratagem when 



3 o NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

it succeeds, but deplorably risky and unsound. 

When the Partner has been doubled, do not 
imagine that he is necessarily in trouble and 
that you must come to the rescue. He is prob- 
ably quite satisfied and may, indeed, be pre- 
pared to redouble. 

Change only when you hold real strength ; a 
hand with which you would have made an of- 
fensive initial bid. 

When the Partner's bid of One has been 
doubled, show assistance by a redouble; but do 
not raise or change the bid until the other Ad- 
versary has made his declaration. By reliev- 
ing the Adversary of this obligation to bid, you 
may deprive yourself of doubling possibili- 
ties. 

When your Partner has doubled the adverse 
call, after you have either made or supported 
a bid, it is most important that you determine 
whether or not your hand lends, to this double, 
the help implied by your bid or raise. 

Assistance to a double consists of top cards 
in suits which are not too long (a strong seven 
or eight card suit, invaluable at your own bid, 
is apt to be trumped by the adverse bidder) 
and of singletons and lacking suits in a hand 
containing a few Trumps. 

When your hand is of greater help to the 



THE DOUBLE 



31 



bid than to the double, revert to your previous 
call. 



EXAMPLE OF CHANGE OF DOUBLE TO 
PREVIOUS BID 



* J 5 

V AKJ8, 

* K 6 

* A 8 5 


4 3 


* 

V 

* AQJ10732 

* K Q J 10 4 3 


Y 

A B 

Z 


A 10 7 4 3 

V 10 9 7 6 5 2 

♦ 9 8 

* 9 


♦ 
* 


AK Q 9 

Q 

5 4 
672 


862 



Z — " One Spade." A — " Four Dia- 
monds." Y— "Four Spades." B 
— " No." Z — " No." A — " Five 
Diamonds." Y — " Double." B — 
" No." Z — " Five Spades." 
The Spade suit is too long to assist 
the double. 



When, however, you have neither made nor 
supported a bid, the Partner has doubled with 
no reason to expect much assistance. He is 



32 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

presumably sure of his ground, and the double 
should usually be left. 

Quite frequently, the Auction player is in a 
happy position to choose between a "bid to win 
game, and a double to defeat the Adversary. 

A double which will net 200 points is usually 
more valuable than the first game of Rubber. 
A game is worth 125 points or one-half of the 
fixed value of the Rubber, plus the trick and 
Honor scores attained ; and is, therefore, more 
valuable than a double which secures only 100 
points. 

A double to be preferable to a bid for the 
Rubber game, should net 300 points or over 
half of the 500 points on which the result of 
the Rubber hangs. 

The most advantageous opportunity to 
double reverts to the informatory value of a 
One No-Trump bid; showing, as it does, a 
hand worth three tricks. 

It occurs when your right hand Adversary 
has bid two of a suit over your Partner's One 
No-Trump call; and you hold two tricks in 
the adverse suit as well as one other sure 
trick. 

With six tricks in the combined hands, the 
double is sure of success. It also gives exact 
information ; and permits the No-Trump bidder 



THE DOUBLE 



33 



to compute the relative values of an overline 
score and of an almost certain game. 

With a very strong hand, he will prefer the 
huge overline score; with the average hand, he 
will select the Two Xo-Trump bid for game. 



EXAMPLE OF THE PERFECT DOUBLE 





* 4 3 

V A Q 9 

* A 8 6 3 

* 7 6 2 


6 


V 
♦ 
A 


Q J 10 2 

K J io 8 4 
Q J io 


Y 

A B 
Z 


* 9 8 7 6 
V 3 2 

* J 9 5 4 

* 9 8 3 




4 

i 
4 


k A K 5 

' 75 

► K Q io 

'• A K 5 


7 
4 



Z — " One Xo-Trump." A — " Two 
Hearts." Y— "Double." B — 
"No." Z— "No." A— "No." As 

Z's hand is very strong, the double is 
more valuable than a Two-Xo-Trump 
bid for game. 



34 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

SUMMARY 

When you are sure of breaking the contract, 
be equally sure you can break any possible 
change of contract before you double. 

When you are not sure, do not risk giving 
the Adversaries game by doubling the value 
of their tricks. 

When your Partner has been doubled, do 
not make a weak bid. 

A double is frequently better than your own 
first game; but it is rarely better than a 
Rubber. 

CONVENTIONAL DOUBLES 

A double of a One call is everywhere ac- 
cepted as a demand that the Partner make a bid. 
A large number of players attach the same 
meaning to a double of an initial Two call; 
and, among certain coteries of Players, a double 
of any initial bid, whether One, Two or Three, 
asks for the Partner's best bid. 

The double of a One suit call implies a 
split hand, i.e., a hand divided four, four, four 
and one (the singleton being the Trump, and 
containing two Honors in each four card suit). 

This convention is thoroughly sound. It 
asks the Partner to choose a Trump with a cer- 



THE DOUBLE 



35 



tainty of at least eight Trumps including two 
Honors, in the combined hands ; or to bid One 
No-Trump with either two tricks or length in 
the adverse suit. 

Use this convention only with a split hand. 
When you have a five card suit, declare it. 

Always take the Partner out of his double 
of One. 



EXAMPLE OF CONVENTIONAL TRUMP 
DOUBLE 





1 
\ 

4 


t K J 8 

¥ 8 6 

♦ 8762 

* 9 8 5 2 




V 
♦ 
* 


AQ65 

5 

A J io 5 

A J 74 


Y 

A B 
Z 


A 4 3 2 

V Q J 10 3 

♦ 9 3 

* Q 10 3 




< 
\ 

i 

1 


f» 10 9 7 
¥ A K 9 
♦ K 4 
f* K 6 


742 



Z_"One Heart." A— "Double." 
Y — " No." B — " One No-Trump." 



The double of a One Xo-Trump to show a 
good No-Trump hand, while an accepted con- 



36 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

vention, is unsound in theory and costly in prac- 
tice. The high cards are usually divided be- 
tween the two No-Trump hands. The Dealer 
has escaped from a difficult position and the 
Doublets Partner is compelled to assume a 
struggle for a Two trick contract. 

When, occasionally, this convention appears 
to win game, it is only because the Partner has 
a suit which he would have declared to direct 
a lead, irrespective of the double. 

When a One No-Trump has been bid before 
you, be satisfied that your average strength is 
in 'the right position to save game. With a 
hand two tricks above the average, make a Two 
No-Trump call without obligating the Partner 
to bid. 

SUMMARY 

Double a One suit call when you have but 
one Trump and four cards including two 
Honors of each other suit. 

Always take your Partner out of his double 
of a One call. 



LEADS 
THE LEAD AGAINST A DECLARED TRUMP 



The Lead of 


Indicates 


Ace 


Four or more small cards 
or Ace King alone. 


King 


A K x 
K Q x 
A K Q 


A card touching the King. 


Queen 


Q J io 
Q J 
Q alone 


Top of a Sequence. 


Jack 


J io 9 
J io 
J alone 


Top. 


10 


io 9 8 
io 9 
io alone 


Top or K J io 


9-8 




Short suit. 


Small Card 


Usually 4th best. May be 
short. 



The King from an Ace King sequence is 
the best opening lead; in fact, any high card 
sequence is a good lead. 

37 



38 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

The top card of the Partner's suit is the sec- 
ond choice. In a Trump hand, always lead the 
highest. An entire suit can rarely be made 
against a Trump bid. 

A singleton is a good lead with a hand con- 
taining one, two or three Trumps — but there 
is always danger attached to it unless your 
Trumps include the Ace or the guarded King or 
Queen. The short lead may establish the suit 
for the Adversary and, without a sure Trump 
trick, the lead cannot be regained before the 
suit is made. 

A singleton Ace (unless of the Partner's 
bid) is a dangerous lead; it is apt to clear an 
adverse suit. The same is true of Ace and 
one card; and the gamble is two to one that 
the Partner has not the King. In fact, the 
longer the suit, the better the Ace lead. 

Do not lead low from an Ace. 

Avoid Q X — J X X and King alone. 
These may take tricks if led to you. 

When possible, avoid the lead of tenace suits, 
such as: 

A Q X X 
A J X X 
K J X X 



LEADS 39 

A tenace is a card above and a card below 
another card. A Q is the Major tenace, K J 
the Minor tenace. Any high cards that are 
not in sequence are usually more valuable when 
the suit is led to you. 

With four Trumps open your own or your 
Partner's long suit, not a short one. If you 
succeed in reducing the Declarant's Trumps, 
your own Trump length and long suit may 
break the contract. 

The 4th from the highest card is led with 
the following and similar combinations: 

Q 10 X X 
J X X X 
10 X X X 
K X X X X 

THE LEADS AGAINST A NO-TRUMP BID 

Always open a long suit. 

When the Partner has made a bid, usually 
lead his suit. 

In leading the Partner's suit, lead the high- 
est card except when you hold three or more 
headed by an Ace or a King — then lead low 
to capture the Declarant's guarded Queen or 
Jack. When, however, this protection is 



40 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

shown by the left hand Adversary, lead the 
highest card through his hand. 

Open your own long suit in preference to 
the Partner's call: 

First — Whenever it can be established 

by one lead (but continue it only when 

you have a re-entry card). 
Second — When the Partner had bid only 

One and you have but one small card of 

his suit. 

When the Partner has not bid, open your 
longest suit with the 4th best card; unless the 
suit contains three Honors (of which two are 
touching) or consists of seven cards including 
Ace-King or King-Queen. With this decided 
strength or length, the lead is the same as 
against a Trump declaration. 

With a long suit headed by Ace, Queen or 
Jack and an Ace re-entry, lead the Ace. With 
no re-entry, lead the Queen. 

With two suits of equal length and approxi- 
mate strength open the one with the lower 
Honor, saving the higher for re-entry (Q X X 
X in preference to A X X X). 

When you have declared one of your suits 
(and the Partner has not assisted) open the 
other. 



LEADS 



4 1 



4 TH BEST LEAD 

The fourth from the highest card is led to 
show the Leader's Partner how many cards, 
and which of the high cards, the Leader holds. 

The number is ascertained by accounting for 
the cards missing below the one led. A Deuce 
shows exactly a four card suit. When a 4 
is led, the 2 and 3 must be placed to detect 
extra length. The Rule of Eleven shows the 
position of the higher cards. 

RULE OF ELEVEN 

Deduct the spots on the cards led from 
eleven; the remainder shows the number of 
cards higher than the one led that are not in the 
Leader's hand. 



Led 



O 6 2 



Dummy 
Declarant 



A 10 4 



11 — 8=3. These three are ac- 
counted for by the A, O and 10 — 
The Declarant has no card higher 
than an 8, and the Leader held K J 9 
8. 



4 2 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



This rule, besides placing high cards, makes 
it comparatively easy to detect a short lead. 
When there are more cards outside the Lead- 
er's hand than the difference between the card 
led and eleven, the lead is obviously the top of 
a short suit. 



Led 
8 



Q J74 



Dummy 
Declarant 



A 10 5 2 



ii — 8=3. As there are four higher 
cards in sight A, J, Q and 10 — the 
lead was not the 4th best and was 
therefore from a short suit. 



FINESSING 

A finesse is an attempt to win trick with a 
card which is not the highest. 

A justifiable finesse is one which has an even 
chance to win and which, normally, entails no 
avoidable loss. 

The idea is to capture an Honor at the left 
by leading a card which will either induce a 
cover, or win the trick. An Honor beyond the 
strength is usually bound to make. 

Broken combinations of three Honors in the 
two hands, or two Honors in one hand, are 
finessed by leading from the weak hand to the 
strong; and generally the highest card from 
the weaker hand. 

FINESSES — DECLARANT AND DUMMY 



A Q x x 



Dummy 
Declarant 



XXX 



K J x 



Dummy 
Declarant 



10 X X 



A J 9 x 



Dummy 
Declarant 



Q xx 



J 9 x 



Dummy 
Declarant 



A io x 
* 



43 



44 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



J 10 X 


* 
A K J 


XXX 


J 10 X X 




Dummy 
Declarant 


Dummy 
Declarant 


Dummy 
Declarant 


Dummy 
Declarant 




A K x 

* 


XXX 


AQ J 

* 


A Qx 
* 





A x x 
* 



' Lead. 



; Play. 



Q J io 




* 
K J io 


Dummy 
Declarant 




Dummy 
Declarant 



XXX 



In every case, the Second Hand has played 
a low card. 

Do not lead a Queen toward an Ace Jack or 
a Jack toward an Ace Queen unless you hold 
the io or 9. Lead low and if the finesse is 
successful and the suit long, lead the Ace. 
When the suit is short, try to throw the lead 
with another suit into the King hand and force 
the Adversary to lead to your tenace. 

Do not lead an Honor toward an Honor 
with only one in each hand. 



FINESSING 45 

With a long Ace, King, Queen or King, 
Queen, Jack combination, play an Honor from 
the hand containing two. By retaining an 
Honor in each hand, you are prepared to finesse 
against an unusual distribution in either oppos- 
ing hand. 

Do not finesse with nine cards headed by 
Ace, King and Jack (unless to shut out an Ad- 
versary you fear). With an even distribu- 
tion of the remaining four cards, the Queen 
will fall. 

With Ace, King, Jack, it is better play to 
win the first trick and finesse on the second 
round. 

There is a slight percentage against a finesse 
with ten cards headed by Ace, Queen and 
Jack. 

JUDGMENT IN FINESSING — DECLARANT'S 
PLAY — TRUMP HAND 

Do not finesse on the Adversary's short lead. 
Play the Ace and lead Trumps. 

Do not finesse the Trumps when the Ad- 
versary has led a short suit. Draw as many 
Trumps as you can. The Leader has not more 
than three, and these probably include a Trump 
Honor; since a short lead without a Trump 
trick is unsafe. 



46 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



Finesse deeply on the return of a short lead. 
The trick will either be trumped or won with 
a low card. 



EXAMPLE OF NOT FINESSING ON SHORT 
LEAD 

A 9 8 6 
V 2 3 

♦ K54 

* A 10 7 6 2 



4 A J 

V 6 5 4 

♦ A 8 3 2 

* K 5 4 3 



* K 10 7 

V A K J 10 9 

* 10 9 

* Q J9 

Hearts — 8 Clubs Led. 

The Declarant should play the Ace of 
Clubs and lead Trumps playing the 
Ace, King and then the Jack. 






Dummy 


* Q 5 4 3 2 




V Q87 




♦ Q J76 


V 


* 8 






Declarant 



JUDGMENT IN FINESSING — DECLARANT — 
NO-TRUMP 

There are two considerations which greatly 
simplify the finessing in a No-Trump hand : 



FINESSING 47 

First: What is the weakness of the hand? 

Second: Which Adversary do I fear? 

The weakness is either a suit established 
against you or one which is but poorly guarded 
and the Adversary who holds the established 
suit or the one who can lead " through " the 
protection is the one to be feared. 

When a finesse can be taken on either side: 

A J x x 



Dummy 
Declarant 



K 10 x x 

Do not finesse into the hand with the estab- 
lished suit. 

When you have a choice of two suits, select 
the one which can be ducked into the hand that 
cannot harm you, rather than the one which 
must be finessed into the hand you fear. 



48 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF NOT FINESSING INTO THE 
HAND WITH THE ESTABLISHED SUIT 



V 
♦ 



Q 

J8 
Q9 



io 5 






* A K 9 8 7 6 



4k 8 4 3 

V K 9 6 

♦ K 7 

* Q43 



5 4 



Dummy 



Declarant 



A 9 7 6 2 

V Q 10 2 

♦ 86 54 

* J 10 



A A K J 
V A73 

♦ A J 10 3 2 

* 5 2 

No-Trump — 5 of Hearts Led. 

Declarant keeps Ace of Hearts until 
the third round. His weakness is 
now the established Heart suit — and 
he fears the original Leader. He 
therefore should lead a low Club and 
play a small Club from Dummy, and 
should not finesse the Diamond suit 
Declarant wins 10 tricks. 

Do not finesse into the hand that can lead 
" through " your poorly guarded suit, such as 
K x or K x x. 



FINESSING 



49 



EXAMPLE OF NOT ALLOWING A LEAD 
THROUGH A KING 

* 8 7 5 4 3 
V K 5 4 

♦ K 7 
4» K 9 2 



A K J 

V Q io 9 : 

♦ J 9 5 4 

* Q 73 



Dummy 



Declarant 



A io 9 2 

V 6 3 2 

♦ A Q io 8 3 

* J 8 



* A Q 6 
V A J 7 

* 6 2 

* A io 6 5 4 
No-Trump — 8 of Hearts Led. 

The Diamond suit is the weakness. 
The Declarant fears a lead through 
the Diamond King by the original 
Leader. Therefore, he should lead 
a low Club and play Dummy's 9. 

When there is no great danger point, choose 
a suit in which you must lose a trick rather 
than a suit which can be finessed either way. 

The final rounds will force discards to lo- 
cate your finesse in the other suit; the discard 
to one or two small cards usually denies an 
Honor. 



50 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 









EXAMPLE 












*KJ 75 


' 








V K 10 7 










♦ K 8 






9 3 




* K J32 






A 


Dummy 


A 


A 6 4 


V 


Q93 






V 


6 5 4 


♦ 


Q976 


5 4 




♦ 


J 10 3 2 


* 


65 




Declarant 


4 


Q97 




A Q 10 8 2 












V A J 8 2 










♦ A 










* A 10 8 4 






No-Trump - 


— 6 of Diamonds Led. 



The Declarant should start the Spade 
suit. On the last Spade tricks, the 
Leader discards two Clubs, thus deny- 
ing the Queen; and on the Declar- 
ant's Clubs the Leader throws good 
Diamonds showing the Queen of 
Llearts. 



FINESSE OBLIGATORY 

In playing for an eight card suit, including 
the King in one hand and the Queen in the 
other, when one of these Honors wins the first 
trick, do not play the other Honor on the sec- 
ond round. 



FINESSING 

Q x x x K x x 



51 



K x x x 



Q x x x x 

The Ace is placed over the remaining 
Honor and, as there is only one more 
adverse card, the Ace will probably 
fall. 

Do not take a finesse which, if it lost, would 
block your suit and rob you of a re-entry. 

EXAMPLE OF NOT TAKING A FINESSE 
THAT WOULD BLOCK THE SUIT 

V 8 7 

♦ J 10 96542 

* A K 



* Q 9 6 


Dummy 


A 10 8 5 3 


V Q42 


u 

T3 


? K J 10 9 


♦ K 8 


V 


♦ 7 3 


* Q J 876 


Declarant 


* 10 9 5 



4k A K J 4 
V A 6 5 3 

♦ AQ 

* 4 3 2 
No-Trump — 7 of Clubs Led. 



52 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

The Declarant wins the Club trick 
and should play the Ace and then the 
Queen of Diamonds. A finesse 
would block the Diamonds and de- 
prive Dummy of the Club Re-entry. 



TRUMP MANAGEMENT (DECLARANT'S 
PLAY) 

As soon as the Dummy is spread, the Declar- 
ant should make a mental estimate of both the 
strength and the weakness of the two hands 
under his charge ; and then and there form a 
definite plan or campaign, outlined by the fol- 
lowing considerations : 

How many Trumps have the Opponents and 
what is the probable distribution of the ad- 
verse Trumps? 

Have missing Honors and finesses been lo- 
cated by the bids? 

What is the meaning of the opening lead? 

Is there a reason for postponing the Trump 
lead? 

From which hand should Trumps be led ? 

Which is the long side suit? 

What is the trick taking probability of the 
hand? 

The fundamental principle of the play of a 
Trump hand is to exhaust the adverse Trumps, 
and bring in a suit; the lack of anything to 
make is no palliation for allowing the Adver- 

53 



54 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



saries to make small Trumps, as well as high 
cards. Some few hands may be advantage- 
ously played by cross ruffing; but these are 
exceptional. 

Therefore, usually lead Trumps; but post- 
pone the Trump lead : 

First — when Dummy has a singleton, or 
lacks a suit, so that you can utilize Dummy's 
Trumps separately. 

EXAMPLE OF TRUMPING IN DUMMY 

A K x x x x 

V x x x 

♦ x 

* A Q J x 



♦ K 



Dummy 



Declarant 



A J x 

V A K Q x x 

♦ A x x 

* K x x 

Hearts Trump — King of Diamonds Led. 



The Declarant should Trump the two 
small Diamonds in Dummy before 
leading Trumps. 



TRUMP MANAGEMENT 



55 



(Do not aimlessly force your own strong 
Trump hand. These Trumps will make later 
when they are needed.) 

Second — when the losing cards in one hand 
can be discarded on winning cards in the other 
hand, and you lack one of the high Trump 
Honors; make the discards before you take 
any chance of losing the lead. 



EXAMPLE OF DISCARDING LOSING CARDS 



♦ 
* 



7 5 3 2 

63 

A J96 

A K J 



* 5 



Dummy 



Declarant 





* 


Q 


10 








V 


A 


Q 


742 






♦ 


K 


10 


7 3 2 






* 


Q 








Hearts 


Trump- 


~ 5 


of Clubs 


Led 



Play Ace of Clubs and discard Queen 
and 10 of Spades on the King and 
Jack of Clubs before leading Trumps. 



56 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



Third — when you have been forced to 
trump an adverse established suit, and the prob- 
able distribution of the remaining Trumps is 
such that an adversary holds equal Trump 
length. It is then necessary to establish your 
own suit before you lead Trumps. 



EXAMPLE OF ESTABLISHING SUIT BEFORE 
LEADING TRUMPS 





o 7 
Tru 


A 5 

V J 8 6 

♦ A 9 6 5 2 

* Q 9 5 2 






A J io 4 
V A K i 

♦ Q io 

* 8 4 3 


2 


Dummy 

U 

cu 

Declarant 


* 

♦ 
* 


8763 
Q 9 5 4 2 
K J 8 
A 


Spades 


4 
4 

mp 


i A K Q 9 : 

* 743 

• K J io 7 ( 

— King of ] 


2 

iearts Led. 



Declarant trumps first trick. The 
probable division of the adverse seven 
Trumps is four and three. The De- 
clarant should lead a Club and discard 
the 3 and 4 of Diamonds on the next 



TRUMP MANAGEMENT 57 

two adverse Heart leads. The De- 
clarant wins 10 tricks. 

Refuse a force when the probable distribu- 
tion of the adverse Trumps shows that one 
Adversary holds equal Trump length. Instead 
of trumping, throw away cards which must be 
lost and wait until Dummy can take the force. 
(Also illustrated by above hand.) 



END PLAY OF TRUMPS 

When you have led Trumps until but two 
or three are unplayed, and find that an Ad- 
versary holds the highest one, usually force 
the Adversary to trump a good side card ; but 
when your suit is established and you command 
both other suits, it is essential to lead the los- 
ing Trump. 



58 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 






EXAMPLE OF LEADING THE LOSING 
TRUMP 

♦ 542 
V 95 

♦ 75 

♦ A Q J86 3 

♦ Q 10 9 
V Q83 

♦ Q J 10 9 8 

♦ 9 7 



♦ 
* 



A AKJ8763 


Dummy 


V J 2 


u 
w 
no 


♦ K 




# 10 s 4 






Declarant 



A K 10 7 6 4 
A 6 4 3 2 
K 2 
Hearts Trump — King of Spades Led. 



The Declarant should Trump the 
King of Spades and lead the Ace, 
King and a losing Heart — making a 
small Slam. 



When in drawing the Adversary's last 
Trump )'ou must also take out Dummy's re- 
entry for a suit, allow the Opponent to make 
the losing Trump. 



TRUMP MANAGEMENT 



59 



EXAMPLE OF ALLOWING THE LOSING 
TRUMP TO MAKE 

* 

V 4 

* 10 5 4 

* A K Q 



10 



* Q J 


Dummy 


V 9 


-3 


♦ A Q 




* J 8 






Declarant 



V - 

♦ K J io 

* io 7 4 



A 5 3 
¥ io 8 

♦ 2 3 4 

* 

Hearts Trump. 

The Declarant should not lead the io 
of Hearts but should Trump a Spade 
in Dummy and lead the Clubs. 



When you hold the last Trumps and a los- 
ing card, lead the Trumps to force discards. 
The Opponent may save the wrong card. 



ADVERSARIES' PLAY OF A TRUMP 
HAND 

Start with the idea of making tricks as 
quickly as possible, using the correct conven- 
tional lead. 

When you have won the first trick, note the 
card played to it by the Partner. A 7 or bet- 
ter shows a desire that you continue the suit. 
Failing this " encouragement/' carefully ex- 
amine the exposed hand, and lead " through " 
the Dummy's tenace suits. 

You lead through your left hand adversary. 
The object is to place the Partner in the ad- 
vantageous position of playing after, rather 
than before, high cards. 

Lead through such broken suits as : 



AQx 


K x x 


A J x 


KQx 


K J x 


Qxx 


Kiox 


A x x 



Do not lead through long or sequence suits 

such as : 

60 



ADVERSARIES' PLAY 61 

AKxxx AKQ 

A Q J x K Q J 

KQioxx QJ109 

The Partner of the Original Leader leads 
" up to " Dummy's weakest suit, and may do 
so from a tenace (unless Dummy is so gener- 
ally weak that the Declarant would ultimately 
be compelled to lead up to tenace suit). 

When leading through broken suits or up 
to weakness, lead the highest card of a weak 
suit and the top of a sequence. 

Against a Trump, these position plays are 
usually better than a return of any except a 
short lead. 

Thus far, the effort has been to make tricks 
before the Declarant could rid his hands of 
losing cards on winning ones : and the play 
continues in direct opposition to that of the 
Declarant. 

Do not establish a ruff in the Dummy hand ; 
and when you find that Dummy can trump your 
good cards, lead the Trump, preferably up to 
weakness, to prevent it. 



62 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF LEADING TRUMPS TO 
PREVENT A RUFF IN DUMMY 



A 97 6 42 
V 653 

♦ 3 

* 8 6 4 3 




* 85 3 
V AQ7 

* KQ95 

* J75 


Dummy 
u 

u 

Declarant 


* K J 10 
V 8 2 

* A J ro 4 

* K 10 9 2 


4 
1 

4 
Hearts Trump - 


k A Q 

P K J 10 9 4 
► 8762 
*■ A Q 

— King of Diamonds Led. 



Third Player should overtake King of 
Diamond with the Ace and lead the 
8 of Hearts up to weakness. Leader 
should exhaust Dummy's Trumps. 



When the Declarant can trump your good 
cards, force him to do so as often as possible. 
This, the best offensive play of a Trump hand, 
has one important exception: 

When Dummy contains an established suit, 
instead of forcing the strong hand, lead the 



ADVERSARIES' PLAY 



63 



fourth suit, i.e., do not select your suit, 
Dummy's suit nor the Trump suit. The only 
chance for tricks lies in the remaining suit. 



EXAMPLE OF LEADING THE FOURTH 
SUIT 

* J 

V 643 

* J96 

* A K Q 9 4 2 



A Q 10 8 4 2 


Dummy 


¥ J 10 


u 

01 

t3 


♦ K 10 8 




* J 10 5 


Declarant 



5 



A A K 9 

¥985 

♦ A Q 7 2 

* 8 7 



¥ 
♦ 
* 



763 

A K Q72 

5 4 3 
63 



Hearts Trump — 4 of Spades Led. 



Leader's Partner should switch to 
Diamond (the fourth suit) leading 
the Ace and 2. 



When you have a trick in Dummy's long 
suit, try to take out Dummy's re-entry. 



6 4 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF TAKING OUT A RE-ENTRY 

* 9 3 
V 7 6 

* Q J io 9 8 3 

* A 5 4 



AKJ 4 


Dummy 


A io 8 6 5 


V io 8 


u 

*T3 


V 9 5 4 


♦ A 7 6 5 4 


V 


♦ 2 


* K J 3 


Declarant 


* io 9 8 7 



* A Q 7 2 

V AKQ J 3 2 

♦ K 

*Q6 
Hearts Trumps — Ace of Diamonds Led. 

The King of Clubs should then be led 
to remove Dummy's re-entry. The 
Partner can stop the Diamonds by 
trumping. 



Do not sacrifice a high card to the Part- 
ner's short lead. Play high only when you 
yourself can make a trick in the suit. 



ADVERSARIES' PLAY 



65 



EXAMPLE OF NOT SACRIFICING HONOR 
TO SHORT LEAD 

♦ 10 2 

V 9 6 

♦ 10 6 2 

♦ Q J 8 63 2 



A K 8 7 6 

V J 10 

♦ K 8 5 4 

* K75 



* Q 43 

V AKQ874 

* Q7 

* A 10 

Hearts Trump — 9 of Clubs Led. 



*AJ 9 5 


Dummy 


V S 3 * 




♦ A J93 


PS 


* 9 4 






Declarant 



Third Player should not sacrifice the 
King of Clubs. The Third Hand 
play of a low card blocks the suit. 



DECLARANT'S PLAY NO-TRUMP 

The first essential is to estimate the strength 
and weakness of the hands, before a card is 
played from Dummy. 

The necessary considerations are: 

Which is the longest suit? 
Which is the weakest suit? 
Which Adversary do I fear? 
Where do I need re-entries? 

There are four general rules for the Declar- 
ant's No-Trump play : 

I. Keep the commanding card of the Ad- 
versary's suit. 
II. Play for the longest suit in the com- 
bined hands. 

III. Keep a re-entry card in the hand con- 
taining the long suit. 

IV. Avoid blocking the suit. 

I. Keep the Commanding Card of the 
Adversary's Suit 

Do not give up the best card (the Ace or the 
King after the Ace has been led) too early in 

66 



DECLARANTS PLAY NO-TRUMP 67 

the hand. Wait until one Adversary has 
played his last card, and is therefore unable to 
continue the lead. The long hand may have 
no re-entry. 

Generally, when you hold only the Ace of 
the adverse suit, take the third trick. When 
you hold both Ace and King, take the second 
and third tricks. Nevertheless, the first trick 
should be won : First — When you have 
enough established cards to make game. Sec- 
ond — When you are weaker in another suit 
than in the one opened. 



EXAMPLE OF TAKING THE FIRST TRICK 

* K 10 6 
V 108 s 

* 987 

* Q J65 



♦ J87 
V Q J 

♦ A J 6 3 2 

♦ 987 



A A 9 5 
V A 9 7 

♦ Q 10 

# A K 10 4 3 
No-Trump — 3 of Hearts Led. 



* Q 4 3 2 


Dummy 


V K 6 4 3 2 


u 

■d 


♦ K 5 4 




* 2 






Declarant 



68 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



The Declarant should play the Ace of 
Hearts, as the entire Diamond suit is 
against him. 

Third — When the play of the command will 
make another card good in either of your 
hands. 



EXAMPLE OF MAKING ANOTHER CARD 
GOOD BY PLAYING ACE 

A KQ J 

V A 10 

♦ 76542 

* 9 6 5 



A 8 3 2 

V K Q J s 3 2 

♦ J 8 

# A 10 



Dummy 



Declarant 



* 10 9 7 6 5 4 
V 7 

* K 10 9 

* 4 3 2 



♦ 



A 
9864 

A Q 3 
KQ J87 



Two No-Trumps — King of Hearts Led. 

The Declarant should play the Ace of 
Hearts on the King to make the 9 of 
Hearts good. 



DECLARANT'S PLAY NO-TRUMP 69 



II. Play for the Longest Suit in the 
Combined Hands 

After taking the lead, count the cards in 
your various suits and play for the longest. 

CHOICE OF LONG SUITS 

With two of equal length, play for the one 
so divided that it offers more tricks. A suit 
of five in one hand and three in the other, 
rather than one of four in each hand. 

With the same division of two suits, select 
Dummy's length, which is seen by the Adver- 
saries, and withhold the other information. 
Discards will help to establish the concealed 
suit. 

With two of equal length, play for the one 
in which a trick must be lost rather than one 
that can be finessed on either side. Discards 
will often locate the finesse (see Judgment in 
Finessing). 

Play for the suit in the hand that has re- 
entry. It is useless to establish a suit that can- 
not be made. 



7 o 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF PLAYING FOR SUIT IN 
HAND WITH RE-ENTRY 

* Q J 

V Q 2 

* K J 10 9 8 2 

* 6 4 3 



* 6 5 4 3 
V K io 8 3 

* 65 

* K io 5 



* A 8 

* A754 

* Q7 

* A Q J 9 2 
No-Trump — 7 of Spades Led. 



♦ K 10 9 7 


2 


Dummy 


V J96 




v.. 

-a 


♦ A43 




as 


* 8 7 




Declarant 



Declarant wins with Jack of Spades 
and should play for Clubs. There is 
no Re-entry for the Diamonds. 
After finessing the Jack of Clubs, 
Declarant should lead the Queen of 
Diamonds, and if the Ace is not 
played, should overtake it with the 
King and lead another Club. 



" Play for " means establish the suit. 
When you have an entire suit (unless you are 






DECLARANT'S PLAY NO-TRUMP 71 

seeking discards) use it to place the lead of 
another suit, and as re-entry for other estab- 
lished cards. 

III. Keep a Re-entry Card in the 

Hand Containing the Long 

Suit 

Cards of Entry are important factors in any 
hand ; but the success or failure of a No-Trump 
is apt to depend on foresight in providing this 
necessary means of bringing in the suit. 

When you are able to take a trick in either 
hand, be careful to save the high card in the 
hand with the long suit. 

There are three methods of providing re- 
entries : First — By playing an unnecessar- 
ily high card in order to make one of equal 
value a re-entry. 



72 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF MAKING A RE-ENTRY CARD 

Cards of Equal Value 





( 


* Q65 








V 43 








♦ K Q 10 6 


5 






* 6 5 2 


* 




A 


io 9 8 7 


Dummy 


4 3 2 


V 


K io 5 




V 


J876 


♦ 


A 8 4 


c3 
U 

h4 


♦ 


9 3 2 


* 


987 


Declarant 


* 


KQ4 




i 


fr A K J 






V A Q92 








♦ J 7 








* A J 10 3 








No-Trur 


np — 10 of Spac 


es Led. 



The Declarant should take the first 
trick with the Ace (not the Jack) of 
Spades, and lead Diamonds. The 
Leaders holds up the Ace ; but the 
Queen of Spades is now a Re-entry. 



Second — By overtaking, or playing an un- 
necessarily high card in order to make one of 
lesser value a re-entry. 



DECLARANT'S PLAY NO-TRUMP 73 



EXAMPLE OF MAKING RE-ENTRY BY 
OVERTAKING 

* 7 3 
V 5 2 

♦ K Q 10 9 7 6 
A Q J 10 



* K 9 6 4 

V K 9 7 4 

* 5 4 2 

* 7 2 



A A Q 5 2 
V A Q 8 6 

♦ J 8 

* A 6 5 
No-Trump — 4 of Clubs Led. 

The Declarant should overtake 
Dummy's 10 of Clubs with the Ace 
to make the Queen a re-entry for the 
Diamond suit. Leader holds up Ace 
of Diamonds and switches to the 
Jacks of Hearts. 



A J 10 8 






Dummy 


V J 10 3 






\j 


♦ A 3 






■r. 


* K 9 8 


4 


3 


Declarant 



Third — By retaining the lowest card of a 
combined eight or nine card suit so that, after 
the first lead of the suit, every card in one 
hand will not be higher than even- card in the 
other hand. 



74 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF MAKING A RE-ENTRY BY 
KEEPING SMALL CARD 

A J 10 
V 4 2 

♦ Q J io 9 3 

* K 5 4 3 



A K 9 6 

V A io 9 8 

♦ 65 

* io 7 6 



Dummy 



Declarant 



A Q 5 4 3 ^ 

* Q 5 3 

* K 74 

* J9 



A A 8 7 
V K J 6 

♦ A 8 2 

* A Q 8 2 
No-Trump-- 8 of Hearts Led. 



After winning the Heart trick, the 
Declarant should lead the 8 (not the 
2) of Clubs to Dummy's King, then 
the Queen, Jack and another Dia- 
mond. The Adversary does not 
cover. The Declarant should then 
lead the Ace, Queen and 2 of Clubs, 
making the 3 of Clubs a re-entry for 
the Diamonds. 



DECLARANT'S PLAY NO-TRUMP 75 

DUCKING 

When there is no re-entry card in the hand, 
the long suit may often be made by ducking, or 
passing, one or two tricks. In other words, 
when the Adversary must win one trick in 
your suit, make him take the first trick, while 
you still have cards to lead from the shorter 
hand. 



EXAMPLE OF DUCKING 





Q 4 
Q 6 5 3 

Q 8 3 
K 10 9 

Xo-Tru 


A 7 6 5 
¥ S 7 
+ 752 
* A Q 64 3 




V 
♦ 
+ 


2 


Dummy 

u 
u 

Declarant 


4 K J 9 3 

V 10 9 4 

♦ K J 9 4 

* 5 2 




4 
% 
4 
4 

mp 


k A 10 8 2 

f AKJ 

► A 10 6 
. J8 7 
— 3 of Heai 


ts Led. 



Declarant wins with J of Hearts and 
should lead the J of Clubs. The 
Leader covers with the K of Clubs, 
and the Declarant should duck by 



7 6 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



playing the 3 from Dummy, other- 
wise the Leader would win the third 
Club trick and the suit could not be 
made. 

When the adversaries must win two tricks 
in your suit, lose both before your shorter 
hand is exhausted. 



EXAMPLE OF DUCKING TWO TRICKS 



A J65 

¥ 9 6 

♦ A 9 6 4 3 

* 8 7 6 




A 10 9 8 4 
V K 8 5 

♦ KQ 

* 5 4 3 2 


Dummy 

u 

V 

a 

V 

Declarant 


*732 
" QJ 7- 

♦ J 10 5 

* A J 10 


4 
% 

4 
A 

No-Trump 


i A K Q 
f A 10 4 3 

► 872 

* K Q9 
— 10 of Spac 


les Led. 



The Declarant should twice lead Dia- 
monds, playing low from Dummy. 
By taking the third round with the 
Ace, three Diamond tricks can be 
made. 



DECLARANT'S PLAY NO-TRUMP 77 

It is often necessary to duck even with a 
re-entry card to make certain that the one trick 
you must lose is taken by the Adversary whom 
you do not fear. 



EXAMPLE OF DUCKING HOLDING A 
RE-ENTRY 



4 

« 
1 


* K 3 

¥ Q 10 9 8 

♦ K 5 

ft Q 10 7 3 


2 


4k A J9 8 6 
V 65 

♦ Q4 

* J65 4 


Dummy 

u 

-a 

td 

Declarant 


4» 10 5 4 
V K J 732 

♦ J98 

* 9 8 


1 
\ 

l 

No-Tru 


* Q 7 2 

V A 4 

* A 10 7 6 

* A K 

mp — 8 of Sj 


3 2 
jades Led. 



The Declarant wins the first trick 
with the King of Spades. He now 
fears a lead through the Queen of 
Spades. He should lead the King 
and a small Diamond ducking the 
second Diamond into the original 
Leader's hand. 



78 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



IV. Avoid Blocking Your Suit 

Unblocking is merely ridding the shorter 
of two hands of its high cards by leading, play- 
ing or discarding them. 



J io 3 


( 


2 x X X X 


Play 
J and io 

on 
A andK 




Lead 
A andK 


AK654- 


2 


A K x 



EXAMPLE OF UNBLOCKING BY DIS- 
CARDING 

*Q45 
V J 

♦ Q J73 

* A 9 8 7 6 



* K J97 
V K8 4 

* 6 5 4 2 

* K 2 



Dummy 



Declarant 



A 10 8 

V Q 10 9 s 

♦ 10 9 8 

* 5 4 3 



A A 6 3 2 

V A 673 

♦ A K 

* Q J 10 
No-Trump — 7 of Spades Led. 



DECLARANT'S PLAY NO-TRUMP 79 

After taking the first trick, the De- 
clarant should lead Ace and King 
of Diamonds and the Queen of Clubs. 
Leader covers with King of Clubs. 
Declarant should lead Queen and 
Jack of Diamonds and discard the 
Jack and 10 of Clubs to unblock the 
Dummy's Club suit. 

At times, a high card must be played on 
the Adversary's trick to perfect a tenace over 
the remaining adverse Honor. 



EXAMPLE OF UNBLOCKING TO PERFECT 
TENACE 





< 


k 1097 






V K 






♦ A 10 9 8 6 5 




* 8 7 2 




* 


J 8 6 


Dummy 


A K 4 2 


V 


Q J 10 9 5 


u 

V 

-a 


V 8 7 4 2 


♦ 


Q 2 3 


V 


♦ K 7 


* 


Q9 


Declarant 


* K 10 6 3 




( 


MQ53 






V A 6 3 






♦ J4 






* A J 5 4 






No-Trump 


) — Queen of 


Hearts Led. 



8o 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



After winning with the King of 
Hearts, the Declarant should lead a 
low Diamond from Dummy. The 
Adversary plays the King on which 
the Declarant should play the Jack 
to perfect the Ace — 10 tenace over 
the Leader's Queen. 

It is often necessary to unblock in order to 
overtake and establish a suit. 



EXAMPLE OF UNBLOCKING TO OVERTAKE 

* 5 3 ^ 
V K 6 

* J io 8 4 3 2 

* Q7 



A io 9 8 4 

V J io 5 4 2 

♦ A 

* K J 9 



A A J 7 
V A 9 8 7 

♦ K 9 

* A io 8 6 
No-Trump — 5 of Diamonds Led. 



A K Q 6 


Dummy 


V Q 3 


0) 

"2 


♦ Q765 




* 5 4 3 2 


Declarant 



The Declarant should play the King 
of Diamonds on the Adversary's 



DECLARANT'S PLAY NO-TRUMP 81 

Ace. He can then overtake the 9 
with the Jack and establish the suit 
saving the King of Hearts as Re- 
entry. 



THIRD HAND PLAY 

Correct Third Hand Play places the cards 
for the original Leader. 

Third Hand Play to the Partner's 4th best 
lead is high. 

When the highest cards are in sequence, 
play the lowest of the sequence. Any Third 
Hand Play denies the card directly beneath 
the one played. 

Play the lowest of a sequence between your 
own and Dummy's cards. 



J X X X 




Q 10 x 



When Dummy contains a guarded King or 
Queen finesse the Ace-Jack combination. 



82 



THIRD HAND PLAY 

Q x x 



83 




J X X 



Do not overlook a Rule of Eleven Finesse. 
K 6 5 




A J 9 3 



THIRD HAND PLAY AGAINST THE 
NO-TRUMP BID 

Generally return the Partner's lead with 
your highest remaining card. It rarely pays 
to play for two suits ; nevertheless, you should 
switch to another lead : 

First — When the Partner has bid one suit 
and opened another — then lead to the bid. 

Second — When the card led shows that 
the Declarant holds the greater length in the 
suit — then lead your own suit. 



8 4 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



A 


9 7 6 5 




Dummy 


H 


V 


Q J3 


u 




p. 


♦ 


Q865 






w 


* 


A5 






ft) 

p 
p. 



EXAMPLE OF NOT RETURNING 
PARTNER'S LEAD 

A K Q 8 
V 9 2 

♦ 3 2 

* Q 10 8 7 6 4 

A A J 10 4 3 
V 10 8 7 6 

♦ A 4 

* 9 3 

4 2 

VAK54 

♦ K J 10 9 7 

* K J 2 

No-Trump — 5 of Diamonds Led. 

As the 2, 3 and 4 are in sight, the lead 
indicates exactly a four card suit. 
Therefore, the Declarant has five and 
the Third Hand does not return the 
Diamond lead. He should lead the 
Jack of Spades. 

UNBLOCKING FOR THE THIRD HAND 

When the Partner opens the suit you have 
bid, the usual lead of the highest card naturally 
unblocks the suit. When the Partner opens 
his own 4th best card, your correct third hand 



THIRD HAND PLAY 



85 



play and return of lead serves the same pur- 
pose; but be alert to unblock on any high 
card lead, always retaining your lowest card 
to the last. 

The opening lead of an Ace at No-Trump 
calls for the highest card in the third hand. 



Holding 


On 


Partner's 


Lead of 


Play 


K x 




A 




K 


A x 




K 




A 


K x 




Q 




K 


K Q x 




A 




Q . 


K Q x 




J 




Q 



Do not unblock at a cost of making an 
otherwise valueless card in Dummy good for a 

trick. 



86 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF NOT UNBLOCKING 

A Q87 

V Q952 

♦ 10 8 7 3 

* 2 3 



A 4 3 2 

V 764 

♦ K Q J 6 5 

* K 8 



Dummy 



Declarant 



A 10 9 6 

V K 10 8 3 

♦ A 9 

* 10 9 5 4 



V 
♦ 
* 



AK J 5 
A J 
4 2 

AQJ7 



No-Trump — King of Diamonds Led. 



Third Hand does not play the Ace 

of Diamonds on the King as 

Dummy's 10 would then be made 

good. 

Leader infers the position of the Ace, 

as the Declarant would have played it 

to make the 10 good. 

Leader continues with low Diamond. 



When you and the Partner hold equal 
length in the suit opened, consider the bids, 
examine Dummy, and plan to place the final 



THIRD HAND PLAY 87 

lead in the hand that can more advantageously 
open another suit through Dummy's broken 
high cards, or up to Dummy's weakness. 

When you hold the greater length in the 
suit, return the Partner's lead with your low- 
est card. 

PLAYS FOR BOTH ADVERSARIES 
(NO-TRUMP) 

When you stop Dummy's long suit, make 
an effort to remove the re-entry. Sacrifice 
your highest card for this purpose. 

Keep the commanding card of Dummy's 
long suit until the Declarant has no more to 
lead; but do this only when Dummy has not 
sufficient re-entries to make the suit. Other- 
wise, take the first trick and return the Part- 
ner's lead before he is forced to discard. 

When the Declarant has held up the Ace 
of your suit for two rounds, if you have no 
re-entry and the Partner cannot lead the suit 
to you after it is established, it is useless to 
continue it. Try to make the best lead for 
the Partner's hand. 



88 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



EXAMPLE OF SWITCHING WITH NO 
RE-ENTRY 

A J 10 7 6 
V io 9 6 3 

♦ AQ 5 

* 7 4 



* 5 4 

V A52 

* KJ843 

* J 10 3 



A A K Q 

V KQ J 4 

♦ 7 6 2 

* A 6 5 
No-Trump — 8 of Clubs Led. 



A 9 8 3 2 


Dummy 


V 8 7 




♦ 10 9 




* K Q 9 8 2 


Declarant 



The Third Hand wins with the io of 
Clubs and returns the Jack. The 
Declarant holds up the Ace. The 
Leader should overtake the Jack with 
the Queen of Clubs and abandon the 
suit. The io of Diamonds is the best 
lead. 



SECOND HAND PLAY 

Second hand play is usually low. 

With two Honors in sequence, play the lower 
second in hand. 

When you play before Dummy, play higher 
than Dummy's best (except when there is dan- 
ger that the Partner's high card may fall). 

Cover an Honor with an Honor whenever 
you can hope to make a smaller card good for 
yourself or for your Partner. 

When Dummy has two sequence Honors, 
cover the second, not the first. The situation 
may be Example i, and a cover of the Queen 
with the King would lose a trick. When it 
is Example 2, a cover of the Jack instead of 
the Queen accomplishes the same purpose. It 
makes the 10 good. 



89 



9 o NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

Q Jx Q Jx 



Dummy 






Dummy 


I 


K io x 


XX 


2 


Declarant 






Declarant 


9 8 x x x x 






A 9 x x x 


Queen led. 


Cover the Ja 


ck not the Queen. 



K io x 



DUMMY'S SECOND HAND PLAYS 



Holding 


Play 


Holding 


Play 


A K x 

J X X 


X 


Q 10 x 
A x x 


X 


A K x 

10 X X 


K — Trump 
x— No Tr. 


Qx 
A x x 


Q 


AQx 

J X X 


X 


Qx 

A io x 


X 


AQx 

10 X X 


X 


Qx 

K x x 


x — Trump 
Q— No Tr. 


AQx 

XXX 


Q — Trump 
x— No Tr. 


Q x 

XXX 


Q 


K Q x 

XXX 


K 


Jx 

K io x 


X 


K J x 

XXX 


X 


Jx 
K x x 


j 


K J 

XXX 


J — Trump 
K— No Tr. 


Jx 

A K x 


j 


K x 

X X 


K 


Jx 
AQx 


X 


K x 

J X X 


X 


10 x 

AQx 


10 


K x 
Q x x 


x — Trump 
K— No Tr. 


10 X 

[A Jx 


X 



Dummy's are the upper cards in the left- 
hand space. The lower cards are the Declar- 
ant's. A low card is led. 

9i 



THE DISCARD 

The discard should be protective and in- 
formatory. When both are not possible, the 
protection of the hand is paramount. 

Usually the discard of a small card means 
weakness, and a 7 or better indicates some 
strength; but any discard followed by a lower 
card of the same suit shows a desire for that 
lead. This is known as an " Echo/' 

The Echo and " encouragement " cards are 
also used in following suit to the Partner's high 
card leads both at No-Trump and with a Trump 
declared, when, for any reason, a continua- 
tion of the suit is desirable. 

Numerous discards on an Adversary's long 
suit are often hand wrecking. A simple little 
suggestion will prove helpful: Protect the 
suit the Partner is discarding and throw away 
the suit that the Adversary is discarding. 
You must protect the one, and the Adversary 
will probably not lead the other. 



92 



END PLAYS 

Correct end plays will often secure the one 
trick needed for game or slam. These are 
comprised in forcing the Adversaries to dis- 
card, and in throwing the lead into the hand 
that must lead to your Kings or tenaces. 

EXAMPLE OF FORCING DISCARDS 

* K 3 2 
V 

* A Q 4 

* 



* J 7 

V 

* 82 

* Q 5 



A A Q 9 




Y 




♦ K 10 9 

* 


A 


Z 


E 



* 5 4 
¥ 9 6 

* 5 

* A 

Hearts Trump — Z Leads. 



Z should force A to discard by lead- 
of Clubs and 9 and 6 of 



ing Ace 
Hearts. 



93 



94 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



Z takes every trick. 

If Z finesse the Diamond, before he 

forces discards, he must lose one 

trick. 

EXAMPLE OF THROWING THE LEAD 





* 


Q 






¥ 








♦ 


A 6 






* 






* K 




Y 


A J 9 


V 

♦ K J 


A 


B 


V 

♦ 8 


* 




Z I 


* 




* 


IO 






V 








♦ 


Q io 






* 







No-Trump — Z Leads. 



Z should lead the io of Spades to 
force A to lead the Diamond. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION > 



1 Reprinted by courtesy of the Whist Club, New York 



PREFACE 

Auction was played in the United States before 
any Code of Laws was drafted for the game. 
Some of the English Clubs had altered the Laws 
of Bridge to meet the more obvious requirements 
of the new game; but, as the Laws of Bridge were 
merely the Whist Code revised, the so-called Laws 
of Auction were nothing more than the English 
Laws of Whist twice altered with as little labor as 
possible to fit another game. This was only natural 
in view of the sudden transfer of popular alleg- 
iance, first from Whist to Bridge, and next from 
Bridge to Auction. 

When the game obtained a firm foothold in this 
country, The Whist Club drafted a code which 
covered a number of subjects not mentioned in the 
English revision of the Bridge Laws, but which 
followed its general form. 

After that, every year or two, The Whist Club 
issued a revision of its Code. Each was a material 
improvement upon its predecessor, but there was 
so much to be done in the line of re-making the 
game that less attention was paid to the order and 
wording of the Laws than otherwise would have 
been the case. 

After many experiments, a system of count was 
adopted in the Code of 1915 which seemed to 

97 



98 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

thoroughly meet the popular demand. The desire 
for more changes in the game suddenly ceased, and 
the mail of the Card Committee of The Whist 
Club no longer brought hundreds of proposed alter- 
ations. 

In January, 1917, The Whist Club issued a code 
which did not materially alter the provisions of the 
Code of 1915, but in which the Committee for the 
first time seriously attempted to clarify some laws 
whose wording, due possibly to repeated amendment 
and alteration, seemed obscure. 

Even now there does not seem to be a desire for 
anything in the nature of drastic revision but cer- 
tain writers, with more or less justification, have 
criticised the arrangement of the present laws and 
characterized as ambiguous the wording of some 
of them. The general public has apparently been 
satisfied with the character of the game, but has 
complained that the average player has difficulty 
in finding the law applicable to a case arising dur- 
ing the play. 

It has seemed advisable, therefore, to entirely 
redraft the laws and prepare, for the first time, a 
Code written for the game of Auction. The changes 
of substance are not many nor, with one or two 
exceptions, of great importance, but there has been 
an earnest effort to make the wording as clear as 
possible and the arrangement such as to simplify 
the finding of any law which may be desired. This, 
with complete indexing, it is believed will meet 
the objections against the wording and form of 
the present code. 



PREFACE 99 

CHANGES IN THE LAWS 

The change made by the Code of 1920 which 
will surely attract the most atention is the reduction 
of the revoke penalty from 100 points to 50, or 
from 3 tricks to 2, as the case may be. 

This may work unfairly in the isolated instance 
in which the revoke benefits its maker, but as in 
about ninety-nine cases out of one hundred the re- 
voke does not do this, the new penalty more nearly 
fits the offence in the vast majority of cases. 

In reducing this penalty, the possibility of an 
intentional revoke is not even contemplated; the 
laws do not provide a penalty for any form of 
crooked play. They are not drafted with the idea 
of defeating the tactics of the card sharp. The 
character of the game makes this impossible, as 
the bidding offers a more fertile field for the clever 
crook to give his partner invaluable information. 
" One Spade " and " a Spade " could be given dif- 
ferent meanings and other forms of expression could 
be used to convey unfair information. 

Should a player intentionally revoke or practice 
other unfair methods, ostracism will be more effec- 
tive than any penalty the Laws could prescribe. 

The question of who wins the rubber when the 
side that wins two games has the lower score, has 
for years been a subject of Auction controversy. 
Originally the winner of two games was held to be 
the winner in the rubber, no matter how many 
points the other side might be in the lead. This 
created the expression " winning a losing rubber ". 
In 1915 this was changed, but the alteration met 



ioo NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

with opposition in certain quarters and The Whist 
Club in 1917 returned to the old order of things. 
Now the folly of attempting to legislate an actual 
loss into a theoretical victory is realized and the 
original change made by The Whist Club being 
approved, it is reinstated so that once again the 
rubber winners will be the partners who come out 
ahead, regardless of which side happens to capture 
two games. 

The proposal that the penalty for a defeated 
contract be increased with the idea of curbing reck- 
less bidding received due consideration but met with 
little favor, as free bidding is one of the most 
attractive features of the game. 

" Contract Auction," which provides that a 
player be permitted to score in his trick-score only 
the amount of his bid, the excess, if any, to be en- 
tered in his honor-score, was considered at time 
of the adoption of the 1917 Code. This year it 
was again proposed and was again rejected for the 
same reasons that influenced the Committee three 
years ago. Auction, as it stands, gives the expert 
sufficient advantage ; " Contract Auction " would 
almost legislate the poor bidder out of the game. 
Like the Nullo, it might make Auction more at- 
tractive for the few, but must do so at the -expense 
of the many. 

The Committee in presenting the Code of 1920, 
feels it should urge the Auction playing public to 
rigidly observe all laws and enforce all penalties. 

It is obvious there must be penalties; to enforce 
some, and to disregard others creates misunder- 
standings and hard feelings. Players are all very 



1 



PREFACE 101 

ready to claim the extremely severe penalty for a 
revoke, which is always a careless and in most 
cases a harmless offence, and yet many hesitate 
to enforce the penalty allowed for looking at a 
trick that has been quitted. The latter offence 
gives the offender improper information by unfair 
means, and the penalty imposed for it is far from 
being too severe. 

The picking up and examining of cards during 
the deal, while by no means so serious an offence 
as looking at a quitted trick, is a most annoying 
habit and is apt to result in exposed cards and 
other unfortunate occurrences. 

Touching one card in Dummy and then playing 
another is an annoyance too often condoned. 

The Auction players of the country are therefore 
urged to observe the provisions of all laws, and to 
exact all penalties, it being especially desirable 
that the penalties provided in Laws 26(d), 53 and 
61 (e) be rigidly enforced. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 

HOW PLAYED 

i. The game of Auction is played by four players, 
two against two playing as partners. Two partners 
constitute a side. 

CARDS 

2. Two packs 1 of cards having different backs 
are used. A correct pack contains four suits of 
thirteen cards each ; one card of each denomination 
to a suit. A pack becomes imperfect when one or 
more cards are torn, soiled or otherwise so marked 
that they may be identified from their backs. 

RANK OF CARDS 

3. In the play, Ace is high, then King, Queen, 
Jack, Ten, etc. ; Deuce being lowest. In drawing 
cards, Ace is low, then Deuce, Trey, etc. ; King 
being highest. 

RANK OF SUITS 

4. In the declaration, 2 Spades are high, Hearts 
next, Diamonds next and Clubs lowest. In drawing 

1 The game may be played with one pack, legal provisions re- 
quiring two packs being suspended by consent. 

2 In the declaration, No Trump ranks above any suit. 

102 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 103 

cards, as between cards of equal denomination, 
Spades are low, Hearts next, Diamonds next, and 
Clubs highest. 

LEAD 

5. The player at the left of Declarer leads 1 to 
the first trick 2 and thereafter the winner of each 
trick leads to the next. 

TRICK 

6. After the lead, each player in his turn to the 
left plays x a card. A trick consists of four cards 
thus played. 

FOLLOWING SUIT 

7. A player must follow suit, i. e. f must play a 
card of the suit led if he have one. When lead- 
ing, or when void of the suit led, he may play any 
card he holds. 3 

WINNING THE TRICK 

8. A trick is won for his side by the player who, 
(a) if the trick does not contain a trump, 4 plays 
the highest card of the suit led; or who (b) plays 
the highest trump, if the trick contain one or more 

1 A player leads or plays by placing one of his cards face up- 
ward near the center of the table. 

2 The first lead of a hand, when legally made, is called the 
initial lead. 

3 To " refuse " is to fail to follow suit. To " renounce " 
(Law 55) is to refuse when able to follow suit. See Law 56 for 
" revoke." 

4 As a result of the bidding (Law 30), the hand may be 
played without a trump (t. e., " No Trump ") or with one of 
the four suits as the trump. Any trump is a winner as against 
any card of a plain (non-trump) suit. 



104 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

trumps. A trick once turned and quitted 1 may 
not be looked at 2 until the end of the hand. 

ODD TRICKS 

9. Odd tricks are those won by Declarer in ex- 
cess of six tricks. If Declarer fulfil his contract, 
his side counts the value of all odd tricks; other- 
wise nothing is counted in the trick score. 

TRICK VALUES 

10. Odd tricks count in the trick score as follows : 

With Clubs trumps, each counts 6 points. 

With Diamonds " " " 7 " 

With Hearts " " " 8 " 

With Spades " " " 9 " 

With No Trump " " 10 " 

Doubling doubles the above values; redoubling 
multiples them by four. 

HAND 

11. A hand 3 begins with the cut 4 and ends when 
the last card is played to the thirteenth trick. 

GAME 

12. A game is won when one side has a trick 
score of thirty (30) or more points. A game may 

1 Footnote to Law 56(a) defines " quitted." 

2 Law 61 ie) prescribes penalty. 

3 " Hand " is also used to mean the cards held by a player. 
When so used the sense is obvious. Also used to designate 
players, as in " second hand," " third hand," etc. 

4 See Law 25. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 105 

be completed in one hand or more; each hand is 
played out x whether or not during it the game be 
won. 

RUBBER 

13. (a) A rubber begins with drawing for part- 
ners (Law 22) or cutting out (Law 23) and is com- 
pleted when one side has won two games. The 
side which has won two games adds a bonus of 
250 points to its honor-score. The side having the 
greater number of total points 2 wins the rubber. 3 

(b) When a rubber is started with the agreement 
that the play shall terminate (i. e., no new hand 
shall commence) after a specified time, and the rub- 
ber is unfinished at that hour; the score is made up 
as it stands, 125 being added to the honor-score of 
the winners of a game. A hand if started must 
be played out. 

(c) If a rubber be started without any agreement 
as to its termination, and before its conclusion one 
player leave; or if, after such agreement, a player 
leave before the appointed hour without appointing 
an acceptable substitute (Law 21-a) ; the opponents 
have the right to consult and decide whether the 
score be canceled or counted as in (b). 

HONORS 

14. The Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the 
trump suit are the honors unless the declaration be 
No Trump, in which case the four Aces are the 

1 All points won are counted whether or not they are needed 
to make game. 

2 See Law 17. 

8 Thus a side may win two games and still lose the rubber. 



io6 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

honors. Honors count in the honor-score of the 
side which receives them in the deal. 

HONOR VALUES 

15. Honor values are based on trick values (Law 
10). They are not increased by doubling (Law 
35) or redoubling (Law 36). 

When There is a Trump: 

3 honors * between partners have value of 2 tricks. 

4 honors between partners have value of 4 tricks. 

4 honors held by one partner have value of 8 tricks. 

5 honors, held 3 by one and 2 by other partner, have 

value of 5 tricks. 
5 honors, held 4 by one and 1 by other partner, have 

value of 9 tricks. 
5 honors held by one partner have value of 10 tricks. 

When There is No Trump: 

3 aces held between partners count 30 points. 

4 4° 
" by one partner count 100 

SLAMS 

16. A side winning all thirteen tricks 2 scores 100 
points for Slam. 3 A side winning twelve tricks 2 
scores 50 points for Little Slam. 4 Slam points are 
added to the honor-score. 5 

1 " Simple honors " means 3 honors. 

2 Without counting tricks received as penalty for a revoke. 

3 Also called Grand Slam. 

4 When Declarer's contract is seven and he wins six odd, he 
counts 50 for Little Slam although his contract fail. 

5 Slam or Little Slam may be scored by either side. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 107 



SCORING 

17. Each side has a trick-score, which includes 
only points won by odd tricks; and an honor-score 
for all other points, including bonuses for honors, 
penalties, slams and undertricks. 

At the end of the rubber, the total points of a 
side are obtained by adding together its trick-score 
and honor-score. 1 Subtracting the smaller total 
from the greater, gives the net points by which the 
rubber is won and lost. 2 

A proved error in the honor-score may be cor- 
rected at any time before the score of the rubber 
has been made up and agreed upon. 

A proved error in the trick-score may be cor- 
rected at any time before the next declaration be- 
gins (Law 29) or, if the error occur in the final 
hand of the rubber, before the score has been made 
up and agreed upon. 

FORMING TABLES 

18. A table consists of four, five or six members, 
of whom four are players. A complete table con- 
sists of six members. In forming a table, candi- 
dates who have not played rank first and in the 
order in which they entered the room. Candidates 
who have played but are not members of an existing 
table rank next. Candidates of equal standing de- 
cide priority by drawing 3 cards. Low wins. 

1 The 250 points bonus for winning two games Law 13 (a) is 
included. 

2 Law 13 (a) explains who wins a rubber. 

3 Method of drawing is described in Law 22. 



io8 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



ENTRY 

19. Before the beginning of a rubber 1 a candi- 
date may enter any incomplete table by announc- 
ing his desire to do so and such announcements in 
the order made entitle candidates to places as vacan- 
cies occur. In case there are more candidates than 
there are vacancies, the provisions of Law 18 apply. 

MEMBERS LEAVING TABLE 

20. If a member leave a table, he forfeits all his 
rights at said table unless he leaves to make up a 
table which cannot be formed without him and, 
when leaving, announce his intention of returning 
when his place at the new table can be filled. In 
such case, if he return, he has prior rights over any 
who have joined the table in his absence and may 
displace one of them. When a member 2 leaves a 
table to make up a new table which cannot be formed 
without him, and does not claim the right to retain 
his membership in the old table, he shall be the 
last to draw out of the new table. 

PLAYERS LEAVING TABLES 

21. (a) A player leaving a table may, with the 
consent of the other three players, appoint a sub- 
stitute to play in his absence; such appointment be- 
comes void upon return of said player or upon con- 

1 Law T3 (a) stipulates that the rubber begins when any player 
draws either for partners or cutting out. 

2 Should two members make up a new table, both rank ahead 
of the others. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 109 

elusion of the rubber. In any case, the substitute 
when released regains all his previous rights. 

(b) A player who withdraws from a table of 
four at the end of a rubber; or who, after availing 
himself of the privilege of paragraph (a) fails to 
return before the end of the rubber, thus breaking 
up the table ; cannot claim entry elsewhere as against 
the other three players from that table. 

DRAWING FOR PARTNERS AND DEAL 

22. A table having been formed, the members 
draw x cards. He who draws lowest becomes the 
dealer of the first deal and has choice of packs and 
seats. 2 He who draws second lowest is Dealer's 
partner and sits opposite him. The third lowest 
has choice of the two remaining seats; fourth low- 
est taxes the remaining one. The members, if any, 
who draw higher than fourth lowest, remain mem- 
bers of the table but do not play in the current 
rubber. 

In all cases when drawing cards, should any one 
show two or more cards, he must draw again. 

A player having made choice of packs or seats 
must abide by his decision. 

CUTTING OUT 

23. If at the end of a rubber a table consist of 
five or six members, the players who have played 
the greatest number of consecutive rubbers are the 

1 One pack is spread face downward on the table and each 
member draws one card. All draw from the same pack. 

2 A player may consult his partner before choosing. 



no NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

first to lose their places as players (but do not lose 
their standing as members). The draw (Law 22) 
decides between claimants of equal standing; low 
wins. 

THE SHUFFLE 

24. After drawing for partners, second hand 1 
shuffles the pack which Dealer has chosen (Law 
22) and third hand 2 shuffles the still pack. 3 There- 
after, at the beginning of each deal, third hand 
shuffles the still pack. 4 After being shuffled, the 
still pack is placed between second and third hands 
where it remains until the next deal. 

During the shuffle, the pack must not be held 
below the table nor so that the face of any card 
may be seen. 

Dealer has the right to shuffle last, but must 
not shuffle after the cut except as in 25 (&). 

The deal must not proceed until the pack has been 
shuffled as herein provided. 

THE CUT 

25. (a) Dealer, immediately before the deal, 
places the pack before his right hand opponent, 
who lifts off the top portion and places it beside 
the bottom portion, preferably toward Dealer, who 
then places the bottom portion on top. This con- 
stitutes the cut. 4 

(b) If the cut leaves fewer than four cards in 

1 The player on Dealer's left. 

2 Third hand is Dealer's partner. 

3 The " still pack " is the one not being dealt, or used in the 
play of the hand. 

4 A player may not cut or shuffle for partner if either oppo- 
nent object. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION in 

the top or bottom portion; or if during it any card 
be faced or displaced; or there be any doubt as to 
where the pack was divided; or any player shuffle 
after the cut; there must be a new shuffle and a 
new cut. 1 

THE DEAL 

26. (a) The deal begins after the cut and ends 
when the last card has been placed in proper order 
in front of Dealer. 

(b) After the first deal, players deal in turn to 
the left. A player may not deal for his partner 
if either opponent object. 

(c) Dealer gives the first card to the player on 
his left and so on until all fifty-two cards are dealt, 
the last one to Dealer. 

(d) A player may not look at any of his cards 
during the deal. Penalty, 25 points in the adverse 
honor-score. 

NEW DEAL (Compulsory) 

27. There must be a new deal. 2 

(a) If the cards be not dealt into four distinct 
packets in accordance with Law 26 (c). 

(b) If, during the deal, any card be found faced 
in the pack or be exposed on, above or below the 
table. 

(c) If it be discovered during the hand that more 
than thirteen cards were dealt to any player. 

1 A player may not cut or shuffle for partner if either opponent 
ob j ect. 

2 Always by the same dealer, and with the same pack except 
(e) when a missing card is not found. See Law 62 regarding 
new cards. 



112 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

(d) If, during the hand, one player hold more 
than the proper number of cards and another less. 

(e) If, during the hand the pack be proved in- 
correct (Law 2). The pack is not incorrect on ac- 
count of a missing card or cards if it or they be 
found in the still pack, among the quitted tricks, 
below the table, or in any other place which makes 
it possible that such card or cards were part of the 
pack during the deal. Any player may search any- 
where for missing cards, including the still pack and 
the quitted tricks (face downward). See also Law 
56 {e). 

NEW DEAL (Optional)i 

28. During the deal any player who has not looked 
at any of his cards may demand a new deal. 2 

(/) If the deal be out of turn, 

(g) If the pack be imperfect (Law 2), 

A new deal may be demanded by either of 
Dealer's opponents 3 who has not looked at any of 
his cards: 

(h) If Dealer omit the cut. 

(i) If Dealer deal with wrong pack. 

If any player, after looking at a card, make a 
claim under this law; or, if no claim be made; the 
deal stands as regular, and the player to the left 
deals next. In case of a deal with the wrong pack 
(£), the next dealer may choose either pack for the 
remainder of the rubber. 

lA new deal may also be demanded under Laws 37(d), 
37(2) and 54<0. 

2 By the same dealer except as in (/), and with the same pack 
except as in (g) and (i). 

3 " Opponent " is always used in the general sense; 
" Adversary " is always an opponent of Declarer. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 113 



THE DECLARATION 

29. The declaration 1 begins when the deal ends 
and ends when four players pass 2 (Law 38) their 
first opportunity to declare 3 or, after a bid (Law 
30), when three players in succession have legally 
passed. The first legal act of the declaration is a 
bid or pass by the dealer. Thereafter each player 
in his turn to the left must pass, bid if no bid has 
been made previously, make a higher bid 4 if a bid 
has been made previously, double the last bid made 
by an opponent or redouble an opponent's double 
provided no bid has intervened. 

BID DEFINED 

30. A bid is made by specifying any number from 
one (1) to seven (7) inclusive, together with the 
name of a suit or No Trump; thereby offering to 
contract that with such suit as trump or with No 
Trump, the bidder will win at least the specified 
number of odd tricks. 

HIGHER BID DEFINED 

31. To make a " higher bid " a player must (a) 
name a greater number 5 of odd tricks in a suit or 
No Trump than the number named in the last pre- 
vious bid, or (b) name at least an equal number 
of odd tricks in a suit of higher rank (Law 4) than 
the suit named in the previous bid. 

1 Declaration also means either bid, double, pass, or redouble. 

2 The player next in turn then deals with hi> own pack. 

3 To declare means to bid, double, pass or redouble. 

4 Law 31 defines "higher bid." 

5 Seven is the greatest number that may be named. 



ii4 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

INSUFFICIENT BID 

32. A bid following any previous bid is " insuf- 
ficient " if it is not " higher " according to Law 31. 

When an insufficient bid is made : 

(a) The insufficient bidder, if he do so before an 
opponent has declared or called attention to the 
insufficiency, may make the bid sufficient by chang- 
ing the number of odd tricks named, in which case 
the declaration proceeds as if the bid had been 
sufficient. 

(b) When either opponent calls attention to an 
insufficient bid before it is changed, the insufficient 
bidder must make his bid sufficient by increasing 
the number 1 of odd tricks named; and if the player 
on the left of the insufficient bidder then pass, the 
partner of the insufficient bidder must pass and may 
not re-enter the declaration unless an opponent sub- 
sequently bid or double. 

(c) If neither opponent call attention to the in- 
sufficiency and the player on the left of the insuffi- 
cient bidder either bid, double or pass, the previous 
insufficiency is waived. 

(d) Either opponent, after the bid has been made 
sufficient as provided in (fe), may in turn make a 
higher 2 bid, in which case the declaration proceeds 
as if no bid had been insufficient. 

BID OUT OF TURN DEFINED 

33. A bid is out of turn, 3 (not an illegitimate 
bid, Law 41) : 

1 Not exceeding seven. 

2 i. e., higher than the bid after it has been made sufficient. 

3 When a bid is out of turn and also insufficient (Law 32), 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 115 

(a) If, before Dealer declares, a bid be made by 

any other player. 

(b) If, after Dealer declares, any player bid 
otherwise than in his turn. 

BID OUT OF TURN PENALIZED 

34. After a bid out of turn: 

(a) Either opponent of the offender may cancel 
it. The proper player then proceeds with the 
declaration, 1 the out-of-turn bid being ignored, but 
the partner of the out-of-turn bidder must thereafter 
pass whenever his turn comes. 2 

(b) When the player on the left of the out-of- 
turn bidder declares before the improper bid is 
canceled, the out-of-turn bid is thereby accepted as 
if made in turn and there is no penalty. 

(c) When the player on the right of the out-of- 
turn bidder is the proper declarer and declares 3 
without otherwise canceling the improper bid, such 
act cancels the out-of-turn bid and (a) applies. 

DOUBLE DEFINED 

35. When, during the declaration and in proper 
turn, a player doubles, it doubles the trick value 
(Law 10) of the last previous bid. Doubling does 
not change bidding values (Laws 4 and 31), nor the 

either opponent may elect to apply either Law 32(6) or Law 
34(a). 

1 The " proper player " must pass if he is the partner of the 
player in error. 

2 The oireriding player, as he has not received improper infor- 
mation, may subsequently declare in turn. 

3 When he doubles, it is a double of the last legal bid. 



n6 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

values of honors (Law 15), Slam or Little Slam 
(Law 16). 

REDOUBLE DEFINED 

36. When, during the declaration, and in proper 
turn, a player redoubles, it doubles the double (Law 
35 ) ; that is, it multiplies the original trick value 
(Law 10) by four. A redouble, like a double, 
affects only trick values (Law 35). 

IMPROPER DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES 

37. The penalties for improper doubles or re- 
doubles follow: 

(a) A double or redouble before a bid has been 
made is void. 

(b) A double or redouble after the declaration 
ends: Law 41 (a) prescribes the penalty. 

(c) A double or redouble made when it is the 
turn of the right hand opponent to declare is sub- 
ject to the same penalty as a bid out of turn (Law 
34-a) unless the partner of the offender has passed 
the bid involved, in which case the double or re- 
double is void and there is no penalty. 

(d) A double or redouble when it is partner's 
turn to declare may be accepted by the opponents, 
after consultation, as if it had been in turn; or they 
may demand a new deal; or call the bid that was 
doubled final and elect whether the double or re- 
double stand. Any of these penalties may be ex- 
acted even though the partner of the offender call 
attention to the error; but, if the player to the left 
of the offender declare, he thereby accepts the out- 
of-town double or redouble. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 117 

(e) A double of a double is a redouble; a re- 
double when there has been no double is a double; 
a redouble of a redouble is void and is penalized 
by a new deal or 100 points in the adverse honor- 
score. Doubling a partner's bid or redoubling a 
partner's double is penalized by 50 points in the 
adverse honor-score. Either opponents may exact 
any of these penalties. 

PASS DEFINED 

38. When, during the declaration and in proper 
turn, a player passes : the turn to declare is thereby 
passed to the next player to the left. 

PASS OUT OF TURN DEFINED 

39. A pass is out of turn : 

(a) If made before Dealer declares; 

(b) If made (after Dealer declares) by any 
player except in turn. 

PASS OUT OF TURN PENALIZED 

40. After a pass out of turn : 

(a) If the opponent at the left of the offending 
player declare 1 before attention is called to the 
error, the pass is accepted as regular. 

(b) If an opponent call attention to the error, 
the pass is void and the player whose turn it was, 
when the error was made, resumes the declaration ; 
but the offending player may not thereafter bid, 

1 See footnote to Law 29, which provides that a pass is a 
declaration. 



n8 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

double or redouble unless the declaration he passed 
be over-bid, doubled or redoubled. 

ILLEGITIMATE DECLARATIONS 

41. (a) A bid, double or redouble made after the 
declaration is ended is not penalized if made by 
Declarer or his partner. But should the error be 
committed by an adversary, Declarer may call a 
lead from the partner of the offending player the 
first time it is the turn of said partner to lead. 

(b) When a player who has been debarred from 
bidding or doubling, either bids, doubles or re- 
doubles, either opponent may decide whether or 
not such bid, double or redouble stand; and, in 
either case, both the offending player and his part- 
ner must thereafter pass. 

(c) A pass after the declaration is ended is void. 

DECLARING AND CHANGING 

42. If a player pass, bid, double, or redouble, and 
then attempt to change 1 to some other form of 
declaration or attempt to change the size of a suffi- 
cient bid, such attempted change may be penalized 
as a bid out of turn. 2 

1 A player who inadvertently says " No Bid," meaning to say 
" No Trump " or vice versa; or who inadvertently says 
" Spade," " Heart," " Diamond " or " Club," meaning to name 
another of these; may correct his mistake, provided the next 
player has not declared. " Inadvertently " refers to a slip of 
the tongue, not a change of mind. 

2 Unless it be an attempt to change the third or fourth con- 
secutive pass which closes the declaration (Law 29). 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 119 



REPEATED ERRORS 

43. When any player commits an error for which 
a penalty is provided in Laws, 32, 34, 37, 40, 41, 
or 42 at a time when an error has previously been 
committed under those laws, for which the penalty 
has not already been fully paid: 

(a) If the previous error was committed by the 
other side, the penalty for it (or as much as remains 
unpaid) is canceled and the side newly in error is 
liable for the penalty provided for the new offense: 

(b) If the previous error was committed by the 
same side, the opponents, after consultation, may 
elect which error to penalize. 

CARDS EXPOSED DURING DECLARATION 

44. If, during the declaration, 1 any player lead 
or expose 2 a card, such card must be left face up- 
ward on the table and the partner of the player 
in error must thereafter pass whenever it is his turn 
to declare. 

If the player in error later become Declarer or 
Dummy, the card in question is no longer exposed; 
otherwise it remains an exposed card until played. 

If the player on the left of the player in error 
later become Declarer he may, on the first trick, 
forbid a lead of the suit of the exposed card. 3 

1 Law 29 specifies when the declaration begins and ends. 

2 Law 51 defines exposed cards. 

3 When two or more cards are exposed, all are subject to the 
provisions of Law 44, but the Declarer may not forbid the lead 
of more than three suits. 



120 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



CONTRACT AND DECLARER 

45. With the completion of the declaration, the 
side which has made the highest bid assumes a 
contract to win at least the number of odd tricks. 1 
named in said bid: the partner of that side who 
first named the suit or No Trump specified in said 
bid is Declarer. 

For every trick Declarer falls short of his con- 
tract, the adversaries score 50 points in their honor- 
score for undertricks. All tricks won by adver- 
saries beyond their " book " are undertricks. The 
adversaries' book is the number of the bid sub- 
tracted from seven. Declarer's book is his first six 
tricks. In case of a double, the undertricks count 
100 each; in case of redouble they count 200 each. 

When there is a double and Declarer fulfils his 
contract, he counts in his honor-score a bonus of 
50 points; and a further bonus of 50 points for 
each trick, if any, that he wins beyond the number 
called for by the contract. When there is a re- 
double, these bonuses are 100 points each instead of 
50. 2 

THE PLAY 

46. After the declaration, the play proceeds ac- 
cording to Law 5. Until the initial lead has been 
legally made, Declarer's partner is not subject to 
any of the limitations 3 imposed upon Dummy. 

1 Law 9 provides that Declarer whose contract fails, scores 
nothing for tricks. 

2 These bonuses are in addition to the increased trick score, 
see Law 10. 

3 Except consultation as to the penalty provided in Law 
54(a). 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 121 



DUMMY 

47. As soon as the initial lead is legally made, 
Declarer's partner places his cards face upward on 
the table and becomes Dummy. 1 Declarer plays 
Dummy's cards as well as his own. Dummy takes 
no part in the play and has no rights except as pro- 
vided in Laws 48 and 49. 

DUMMY'S RIGHTS (Unconditional) 

48. Dummy always has the right: 

(a) To call attention to the fact that too many 
or too few cards have been played to a trick, 

(b) To call attention to the fact that the wrong 
side has gathered in a trick, 

(c) To ask Declarer whether he have any of a 
suit he has refused. 2 

(d) To correct an error in the score, 

(e) To participate in the discussion of any dis- 
puted question of fact after it has arisen between 
Declarer and an adversary, 

(/) To correct an improper claim of either ad- 
versary, 

(g) To assist Declarer as allowed by Law 54(;). 

DUMMY'S RIGHTS (Conditional) 

49. If Dummy have not intentionally looked at a 
card held by any player, he has the following ad- 
ditional rights: 

1 " Dummy " is sometimes used in the obvious sense Qf 
dummy's cards. 

2 " Refuse " is denned in footnote to Law 7, 



122 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

(h) To claim an adverse revoke, 

(i) To call attention to an adverse lead out of 
turn, 

(/) To call attention to a card exposed by an 
adversary, 

(k) To call Declarer's attention to any right he 
may have under the laws, 

(I) To suggest playing out the hand when De- 
clarer would concede any of the remaining tricks 
(Law 59-&). 

DUMMY PENALIZED 

50. (m) Should Dummy call attention to any 
matter involving a right to Declarer or a penalty 
incurred by the adversaries, said matter not being 
covered by Law 48, paragraphs (a) to (g) ; or 
should he, after having intentionally looked at a 
card held by any player, seek to exercise any of 
the rights mentioned in Law 49, paragraphs (h) 
to (I) ; then such right or penalty is canceled and 
may not be exercised or exacted. 

(n) Should Dummy, by touching a card or other- 
wise, suggest a play by Declarer; either adversary 
may require Declarer to make such play (if legal) 
or to refrain from making it. 

(0) Should Dummy warn declarer that he is 
about to lead from the wrong hand, either adver- 
sary may designate the hand from which Declarer 
shall lead. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 123 



EXPOSED CARDS 

51. The following are '''exposed'' cards — 

(a) Two or more cards led or played simultane- 
ously (all are exposed) ; 

(b) A card dropped face upward on the table, 
even if snatched up so quickly that it cannot be 
named; 1 

(c) A card dropped elsewhere than on the table 
if the partner se-e its face; 2 

(d) A card so held by a player that his partner 
sees any portion of its face ; 2 

(e) A card mentioned by either adversary as 
being in his own or his partner's hand. 

(/) If an adversary w T ho has legally played tb 
the twelfth trick, show his thirteenth card before 
his partner plays his twelfth, the partner's two 
cards are exposed; 

(g) A card designated by any Law as " exposed." 

CALLING EXPOSED CARDS 

52. After a card has been u exposed " as defined 
in Law 51, it must be left face upward on the table 
and Declarer may "call" it (£ e., require its owner 
to lead or play it) 3 at any time when it is the 
owner's turn to lead or play, except when the play- 
ing of the " called " card would cause the holder 
to renounce. 

1 If an adversary throw his cards face upward on the table, 
they are exposed (except as in 59-a) and liable to be called; but 
if the other adversary retain his hand, he cannot be forced to 
expose it. 

2 The fact that an opponent sees it, does not make it an 
exposed card. 

, 3 Declarer and Dummy are not liable (Law 53). 



124 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

Declarer may call an exposed card any number 
of times until it may be legally played, but the 
owner may play it even if not called. 

PLAY OF DECLARER AND DUMMY 

53. A card from Declarer's hand is not played 
or led until quitted. 1 If Declarer name or touch 
a card in Dummy he must play it. 2 If he touch 
two or more cards simultaneously, he may play 
either. 

Declarer and Dummy are not liable to the call 
of exposed cards. 3 

LEADS OUT OF TURN AND CARDS PLAYED 
IN ERROR 

54. (a) After the declaration and before a legal 
initial lead, should the partner of the proper leader 
lead or expose a card, Declarer may either call a 
lead 4 from the proper leader or treat the card 5 as 
exposed. Declarer's partner may call Declarer's 
attention to the offense but, should they consult 
regarding the penalty, it is canceled. Should De- 
clarer's partner spread any part of his hand before 
Declarer selects the penalty, Declarer may not call 
a lead. 

(b) Should an adversary who has played a card 
which, as against Declarer and Dummy, is a winner 

1 A card is " quitted " when the player no longer touches it. 

2 Unless Declarer say "I arrange," or words to that effect; 
or unless his touching the card is obviously for the purpose of 
uncovering a partly hidden one or to enable him to get at the 
card he wishes to play. 

3 But see Law 54 (a). 

4 If the player called on to lead a suit have none of it the 
penalty is paid. 

5 Or cards. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 125 

lead another or several such winning cards with- 
out waiting for his partner to play; Declarer may 
require said adversary's partner to win, if he can, the 
first or any of these tricks, after which the remain- 
ing card or cards thus led are exposed. 

(c) Should the adversaries lead simultaneously, 
the correct lead stands and the other is an exposed 
card. 

(d) Should Declarer lead out of turn either from 
his own hand or Dummy, either adversary may 
direct that the error be rectified, but Declarer may 
not rectify it unless so directed. 

(e) After a lead by Declarer or Dummy, should 
fourth hand play before second hand; Declarer may 
require second hand to play his highest or lowest 
card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick. 1 
If second hand have none of the suit led, Declarer 
may call his highest of any designated suit. If 
second hand hold none of the suit called, the pen- 
alty is paid. 

(/) Should Declarer lead from his own or Dum- 
my's hand and then play from the other hand be- 
fore second hand plays, fourth hand may play be- 
fore second hand without penalty. 

(g) Should any player (including Dummy) lead 
out of turn and next hand 2 play wkhout claiming 
the penalty, the lead stands as regular. 

(h) If an adversary lead out of turn, Declarer 
may call a lead as soon as it is the turn of either 
adversary to lead or may treat the card so led as 
exposed. 

1 Except as provided in (/). 

2 Declarer accepts wrong lead if he play next either from his 
own or Dummy's hand. 



126 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

(i) If a player (not Dummy) omit playing to a 
trick and then play to a subsequent trick, Declarer 
or either adversary (as the case may be) may de- 
mand a new deal whenever the error is discovered. 
If no new deal be demanded, the surplus card at 
the end of the hand is considered played to the 
imperfect risk, but does not constitute a revoke 
therein. 

(/) Whenever it is suspected that any of the 
quitted tricks contains more than four cards, any 
player (including Dummy) may count them face 
downward. If any be found to contain a surplus 
card and any player be short, either opponent may 
face the trick, select the surplus card and restore 
it to the player who is short; but this does not 
change the ownership of the trick. The player 
who was short is answerable for revoke as pro- 
vided in Law 56 (e). 

RENOUNCE 

55. When a player, having one or more cards 
of the suit led, plays a card of a different suit; 
his act constitutes a renounce. 1 

REVOKE DEFINITIONS 

56. A renounce (Law 55) becomes a revoke and 
subject to penalty (Law 57) : 

(a) When the trick in which it occurs is turned 
and quitted 2 by the rightful winners, except as 
provided in Law 58(c) ; 

1 See also " refuse," Law 7, footnote. 

2 A trick is " quitted " when it is turned and the player no 
longer touches it. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 127 

(b) When the renouncing player or his partner, 
whether in turn or otherwise, leads or plays to the 
following trick ; 

(c) When one side having claimed a revoke 
either opponent mixes the cards before the claimant 
has had reasonable opportunity to examine them. 

(d) When a player has incurred a penalty re- 
quiring him to play the highest or lowest of a suit, 
or to win or lose a trick, or to lead a certain suit, 
or to refrain from playing a certain suit, and fails 
to act as directed when able to do so ; he incurs the 
revoke penalty. 

(e) If at any time a player be found to have less 
than his correct number of cards, and the other three 
have their correct number ; the missing card or 
cards, if found (see also Laws 27-e and 54-/), be- 
long to the player * who is short and, unless he be 
Dummy, he is answerable for any revoke or re- 
vokes as if the missing card or cards had been in 
his hand continuously. 

REVOKE PENALTY 

57. The penalty for each revoke is: 

(a) When Declarer revokes, he cannot score for 
tricks and his adversaries, in addition to any bonus 
for undertricks, 2 add 50 points to their honor-score 
for each revoke. 

(b) When either adversary revokes, Declarer 

1 The fact that such player made no claim of irregularity at 
the time of the deal is conclusive, in the absence of evidence 
to the contrary, that the missing cards were dealt to him. 

2 The fact that Declarer revokes does not permit adversaries 
to score for undertricks, provided Declarer has won (even with 
the help of the revoke) at least the number of tricks called for 
by his contract. 



128 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

for the first revoke may either score 50 points in 
his honor-score or take two tricks x from his adver- 
saries and add them to his own. 2 Such tricks may 
assist Declarer to make good his contract, but shall 
not entitle him to any further bonus 3 in the honor- 
score by reason of the bid having been doubled or 
redoubled; nor to a Slam or Little Slam not other- 
wise obtained. For each revoke after the first, De- 
clarer adds 50 points to his honor-score. 

(c) The value of honors as held is the only score 
that can be made by a revoking side unless both 
sides revoke; if one side revoke more than once, 
the other scores 50 for each extra revoke. 

REVOKE AVOIDED 

58. A renounce (Law 55) may be corrected, and 
the revoke (Law 57) avoided, under the following 
circumstances : 

(a) If made by Dummy, the renounce may be 
corrected before the trick is turned and quitted. 
After the trick has been turned and quitted, whether 
by the rightful winners or otherwise, the renounce 
may not be corrected. In neither case is there any 
penalty. 

(b) A renouncing player, other than Dummy, 
may not correct his error (except as in c) after 
the trick is turned and quitted nor after he or his 
partner has led or played to the following trick. 
If the correction be made in time, there is no re- 

1 The value of the two tricks — undoubted, doubled or re- 
doubled as the case may be — is counted in the trick score. 

2 Dummy may advise Declarer which penalty to exact. 

3 They may enable him to win a game and, if that game end 
the rubber, give him the 250 points bonus. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 129 

voke penalty; but the player in error (except as 
in e) may be required to play his highest or lowest 
card of the suit led. Any player, who played after 
the renounce, may withdraw his card and substitute 
another. 

(c) If, before the trick is turned and quitted, 
the partner of the renouncing player ask him 
whether he have any 1 of the suit refused, subse- 
quent turning and quitting does not establish a 
revoke until the renouncing player has answered 
in the negative, or until he or his partner has led 
or played to the following trick. 

(d) If the renouncing player be an adversary 
and the renounce be corrected in time, Declarer 
instead of calling the highest or lowest may treat 
the card player in error as exposed. 

(e) The highest or lowest may not be called 
from Declarer unless the adversary to his left have 
played to the trick after the renounce. 

(/) Should Dummy leave the table after request- 
ing protection from revokes. 2 Declarer cannot be 
penalized, following a renounce, unless an adver- 
sary in due time call the renounce to his attention. 

(g) The revoke penalty cannot be claimed after 
the next ensuing cut (Law 25) ; nor, if the revoke 
occur during the last hand of a rubber, after the 
score has been agreed upon; nor if there have been 
a draw for any purpose in connection with the next 
rubber (e. g., as in Law 23). 

1 Or none. 

2 Sometimes called " courtesies of the table." 



130 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



CLAIMING AND CONCEDING TRICKS 

59. (a) If Declarer say " I have the rest," or any 
words indicating the remaining tricks or any num- 
ber thereof are his; either adversary may require 
him to place his cards face upward on the table 
and play out the hand. Declarer cannot then take 
any finesse, not previously proven a winner, 1 unless 
he announced it when making his claim; nor may 
he call any cards either adversary has exposed. 

(b) If Declarer concede one or more tricks, and 
either adversary accept the concession before 
Dummy lawfully demands that the hand be played 
out (Law 49-Z), such trick or tricks belong to ad- 
versaries even though, had the hand been played out, 
Declarer could not have lost them. 

(c) If an adversary concede a trick or tricks to 
Declarer, and such concession be accepted before 
the other adversary objects, it is binding on both 
adversaries. 



PENALTIES AND CONSULTATION 

60. Laws which give " either partner," " either 
opponent," etc., the right to exact a penalty do not 
permit consultation. 

(a) If either partner suggest or name a penalty 
he is deemed to have selected it. 

(b) If either direct the other to select a penalty, 
the latter must do so; and, if an attempt be made 

1 " Proven a winner " means that the adversary who plays last 
to the trick in which the finesse is to be taken, has previously 
refused that suit; the fact that a finesse in the same suit has 
previously won is not enough. 



THE LAWS OF AUCTION 131 

to refer the privilege back, the penalty is canceled. 

(c) If either says (in effect), ''Which of us is 
to select the penalty?'* the penalty is canceled. 

(d) A proper penalty once selected may not be 
changed. 

(e) If a wrong penalty be selected. 1 the selection 
must be corrected upon request of either opponent. 

(/) If a wrong penalty be selected and paid 
without challenge, the selection may not be changed. 

(g) A reasonable time must be allowed for the 
selection of a penalty, and the selection must be 
made within a reasonable time. 

(ft) If, instead of exacting a penalty at the 
proper time, either opponent of the side in error 
play or declare, no penalty may be exacted. 

INFORMATION 

61. (a) During the declaration, information must 
be given concerning its details up to that time, but, 
after it is ended, should either adversary or Dummy 
inform his partner regarding any detail of the 
declaration except the contract. Declarer or either 
adversary (as the case may be) may call a lead 
the next time it is the turn of the offending side 
to lead. At any time during the play, any player 
inquiring must be informed what the contract is. 

(b) Any player except Dummy may, before a 
trick is turned and quitted, demand that the cards 
so far played be placed before their respective 
players; but should either adversary, in the absence 

1 If the "penalty" selected be something not described in the 
Laws, no penalty may be exacted. 



i 3 2 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

of such demand, in any way call attention to his 
own card or to the trick, Declarer may require the 
partner of the offender to play his highest or low- 
est card of the suit led, or to win or lose the trick. 

(c) Either adversary, but not Dummy (Law 
50-0), may call his partner's attention to the fact 
that he is about to play or lead out of turn; but 
if, during the play, an adversary make any unau- 
thorized reference to any incident thereof, or to the 
location of any card, Declarer may call the next 
lead when it becomes an adversary's turn. 1 

(d) If before or during the declaration a player 
give any unauthorized information concerning his 
hand, his partner may be barred from subsequent 
participation in the declaration. 

(e) The penalty for looking at quitted tricks 
(except where the Laws permit examination) is 
25 points in the adverse honor-score for each of- 
fense. 

NEW CARDS 

62. One new pack must be produced to replace an 
incorrect one (Law 2j-e) or an imperfect one 
(Law 28-g). Otherwise, when new cards are de- 
manded, two packs must be furnished and the op- 
ponents of the player demanding them have the 
choice, unless the demand be made at the beginning 
of a rubber, in which case Dealer has the choice. 

Except under Laws 27 (e) and 28(g), new cards 
may not be introduced during a deal. (See Law 
26-a.) 

1 Any such reference by Dummy, may be similarly penalized 
by either adversary. 



THE ETIQUETTE OF AUCTION 

In the game of Auction slight intimations may 
convey improper information. To offend against 
etiquette is more serious than to offend against a 
law; for in the latter case the offender is subject 
to prescribed penalties ; in the former his opponents 
are without redress. 

i. Declarations should be made in a simple man- 
ner, thus : " one Heart," " one No Trump," " pass," 
" double " ; they should be made without emphasis. 

2. Except by his legitimate declaration, a player 
should not indicate by word, manner or gesture 
the nature of his hand, nor his approval or disap- 
proval of a play, bid, or double. 

3. If a player demand that the cards be placed, 
he should do so for his own information and not 
to call his partner's attention to any card or play. 

4. An adversary should not lead until the preced- 
ing trick has been turned and quitted; nor, after 
having led a winning card, should he draw an- 
other from his hand before his partner has played 
to the current trick. 

5. A card should not be played in such manner 
as to draw attention to it, nor should a player de- 
tach one card from his hand and subsequently play 
another. 

6. A player should not purposely incur a penalty 

133 



134 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



nor should he make a second revoke to conceal a 
first. 

7. Conversation which may annoy players at the 
table or at other tables in the room should be 
avoided. 

8. Dummy should not leave his seat to watch his 
partner play nor call attention to the score. 

9. If Declarer say, " I have the rest," or any 
words indicating that the remaining tricks, or any 
number thereof, are his, and an adversary exposes 
his cards, Declarer should not allow any informa- 
tion so obtained to influence his play. 

10. A player having been cut out of one table 
should not seek admission in another unless willing 
to cut for the privilege of entry. 



INDEX TO LAWS 

Abiding by decision, 22. 

Ace(s). 

— as honors, 14, 15. 

— high in play, 3. 

— low in drawing, 3. 
Adversary (ies). 

— 's book, 45. 

— claim or concede tricks, 59 (b), 59(c). 

— correct renounce, 58(c). 

— exposes cards, 51 (Z?) , 5i(/). 
" — " is opponent of declarer, 28. 

— leads simultaneously, 54(c). 

— leads out of turn, 54(A). 

— leads several winning cards, 55(6). 

— revokes, 57 (fr). 
— *s undertricks, 45. 

Agreement to terminate rubber, 13(b). 
Appointing substitute, 21(a). 
Asking partner, 58(c). 
Auction, how played, 1. 
Bid. 

Changing — , 42. 

" Declare " includes " — ," 29. 

Higher — defined, 31. 

— , how made, 30. 

Insufficient — . See Insufficient Bid. 

— made after declaration ends, 41(a). 

— made when under compulsion to pass, 41(b). 
" no — " changed to " no trump/' 42. 

— out of turn. See Bid Out of Turn. 
Seven the highest possible — , 31. 

— -ing values, 31, 35, 36. 
135 



136 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

Bid out of turn. 

— also insufficient, 33. 

— defined, 33. 

— penalized, 34, 41, 42. 
Bonus (es). 

— counted in honor-score, 17. 

— for doubled and redoubled contract, 45. 

— for game, 13(b). 

— for revoke, 57. 

— for rubber, 13(a), 57 W- 

— for undertricks, 45. 
Book. 

Adversaries' — , 45. 

Declarer's — , 45. 
Breaking up a table, 21(6). 
Calling. 

— a lead, 41(a), 5°(w), 54(a). 54(h), 61(a), 61(c). 

— exposed cards, 44, 52, 54(b), 54(c), 54 W, 58(d), 

59(a). 

— highest or lowest cards, 54(c), 58(&), 58(d), 

58(c), 61(b). 
Candidate (s). 

— for entry at table, 18, 19. 
Priorty among — , 18, 19. 

Card(s). See also Pack. 

Adversary leads several winning — , 54(b). 
Calling exposed — . See Calling. 
Calling highest or lowest — . See Calling. 
Choice of — . See Choice. 

— dealt into four packets, 27(a). 
Declarer plays Dummy's — , 47. 

— displaced in the cut, 25(b). 
Drawing — . See Draw(ing). 

— dropped, 51 (&), 5.i'(<0- 

— exposed. See Exposed Cards. 
Exposed — . See Exposed Cards. 

— faced in the cut, 25(b). 



INDEX TO LAWS 137 

— faced in the deal, 27(b). 

— faced in the declaration, 44. 
Four — in cut, 25(b). 

— improperly dealt, 27, 28. 
Kind of — used, 2. 
Laying down — , 47-59. 

— led or played simultaneously, 51(a), 54(c). 

— looked at during deal, 26(d). 
Marked — , 2. 

Missing — , 27(e), 540"), 56(e). 

Mixing the — when revoke is claimed, 56(c). 

More than thirteen — held, 27(c). 

New — . See New. 

One — of each denomination to a suit, 2. 

One or two packs of — used, 2. 

Placing — , 61(b). 

— played in error, 44, 54, 55. 

Player holds too few or too many — , 27(c), 27(d), 

t 54(D, 56(c). 
Quitted trick contains too many or too few — , 

54(0, 540'). 
Rank of — in drawing, 3. 
Rank of — in play, 3. 
Soiled — , 2. 
Substituting — , 5&(b). 
Thirteen — to a suit, 2. 

Too many or too few — played, 48(a), 54O'). 
Torn — , 2. 

— touched by declarer, 53. 

— touched by dummy, 50 (w). 

— touched simultaneously, 53. 
Two packs of — used, 2. 

— withdrawn following renounce, 58(6). 
Changing declaration, 42. 

Choice. 

— of cards. See — of Packs. 

— of packs, 22, 62. 



138 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

— of seats, 22. 
Claiming " the rest," 59. 
Club(s). 

Rank of — , 4. 

— tricks count six, 10. 
Complete table, 18. 
Conceding tricks, 59. 
Consultation. 

— in general, 60. 

— regarding choice of packs and seats, 22. 

— regarding improper double, 37(d). 
Contract. 

— bonus for double and redouble, 45. 

— defined, 30, 45. 
Failing to make — , 45. 

Giving information regarding — , 61(a). 

— lost by revoke, 57(a). 
Odd tricks and — , 9. 
Slams and — , 16. 
Winning — , 9, 45. 

— won by revoke, 57(b). 

Correct pack (see also Incorrect), 2, 62. 
Cut. 

Deal begins after — , 26(a). 

— described, 25. 

Hand begins with — , it. 

Improper — , 25(b). 

Must — four cards, 25(b). 

New — , 25(b). 

No shuffle after — , 24, 25(b). 

— omitted, 28 (h). 
Partner must not — , 25. 

Cutting for deal and partners. See Drawing. 
Cutting out. 

— at beginning of rubber, 13(a). 

— at end of rubber, 23. 



INDEX TO LAWS 139 

Deal 

— after cut, 26(a). 

— after shuffling, 24. 

Cards faced or exposed in — , 2j(b). 

— described, 26(c). 
Drawing for — , 22. 

Looking at cards during — , 26(d). 
New — . See New deaL 
New cards during — , 62. 

— out of turn, 28(f). 
Partner may not — , 26(b). 
Players — in turn to left, 26(b). 
When — begins and ends, 26(a). 

— with wrong pack, 28(f)* 
Dealer. 

— completes cut, 25(a). 

— deals out of turn, 28(f). 

— deals with wrong pack. 28(1). 
First — , how selected, 22. 

— 's partner may not deal, 26(b). 
— 's partner shuffles, 24. 
Same — deals, 27, 28. 

— shuffles last, 24. 
Decision, abiding by, 22. 
Declaration. (See also Declare.) 

Cards exposed during — , 44. 

— changed, 42. 

— described and defined, 29. 
First legal act of — , 29. 

Giving information regarding — , 61(a). 
Illegitimate — , 41. 

u — " includes " bid,'' " pass," " double " and "re- 
double," 29. 

— made when under compulsion to pass, 41(b). 
Rank of suits in — , 4. 

When — begins and ends, 29. 



140 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

Declare (s). (See also Declaration.) 

— ing and changing, 42. 

— defined, 29. 
'— " includes "bid," "pass," "double" and "1 

double," 29. 
Declarer. 

" Adversary " is — 's opponent, 28. 

— and contract, 45. 

— and dummy, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 59, 60. 
— 's bonus for double and redouble, 45. 
— 's book, 45. 

— claims or concedes tricks, 49(0, 59. 

— condones lead out of turn, 54(g). 

— defined, 45. 

— leads out of turn, 54 (d), 54(f). 

— makes contract by own revoke, 57(a). 

— may not forbid lead of more than three suits, 44. 

— not liable for exposed cards, 53. 
Only — scores for tricks, 9. 

— 's partner exposes hand, 54(a). 

— *s partner not subject to Dummy's limitations, 46. 

Partner who first names suit is — , 45. 

— plays dummy's cards, 47. 

— plays out of turn, 54(d), 54(f)- 

— revokes, 57(a). 

— scores slam on losing contract, 16. 

— takes two tricks or 50 points for first revoke, 

57(b). 

— taking finesse, 59(a). 

— touching card, 53. 

When — counts odd tricks, 9. 
Definitions. 

Adversary, 28. Auction, 1. Bid, 30. Bid out of 
turn, 33. Book, 45. Contract, 30, 45. Correct 
pack, 2. Cut, 25. " Cutting," 22. Cutting out, 23. 
Deal, 26. Dealer, 22. Declaration, 29. Declare, 29. 
Declarer, 45. Double, 35. Double out of turn, 37. 



INDEX TO LAWS 141 

Drawing, 22. Dummy, 47. Exposed cards, 51. 
Following suit, 7. Game, 1, 12. Hands, 11. 
Higher bid, 31. Honor-score, 17. Honors, 14. 
Illegitimate declaration, 41. Imperfect pack, 2. 
Insufficient bid, 32. Lead, 5. Member, 18. Net 
points, 17. No trump, 8. Odd tricks, 9. Opponent, 
28. Partners, 1. Pass, 38. Pass out of turn, 39. 
Plain suit, 8. Play, 1, 5. Player, 18, 22. Quitted 
card, 53. Quitted trick, 56(a). Redouble, 36. Re- 
double out of turn, 37. Refuse, 7. Renounce, 55. 
Revoke, 56. Rubber, 13. Shuffle, 24. Side, 1. 
Slam, 16. Still pack, 24. Table, 18. Total points, 
17. Trick, 6. Trick score, 17. Trump, 8. Under- 
tricks, 45'. Winning rubber, 13. 

Deuce low in play, 3. 

Diamond (s). 

Rank of — ,4. 

— tricks count seven, 10. 
Displacing other players, 20, 21. 
Double. 

— after declaration ends, 37(b), 41(a). 

— before a bid is made, 37(a). 
Bonus for — d contract, 45, 57(b). 
Changing a — , 42. 

" Declare " includes " — ," 29. 

— defined, 35. 

— doubles trick values, 10, 57(b). 
Honor values not changed by — , 15. 

— of a—, 37(e). 

— of partner's bid, 37(e). 

— when turn of partner, 37(0"). 

— when turn of right opponent, 37(c). 

— when under compulsion to pass, 41(6). 
Draw(ing). 

All — from same pack, 22. 

— for cutting out, 23 

— deal, 22. 



142 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

— for entry, 18, 19. 

— for partners, 22. 
Rank of cards in — , 3. 
Rank of suits in — , 4. 

— two cards, must draw again, 22. 
Dummy. 

Declarer plays — 's cards, 47. 

— defined, 47. 

— lays down cards too soon, 54(a). 

— leaving table, 58(/). 
— 's limitations begin after initial lead, 46. 

— not liable for exposed cards, 44, 53. 

— not liable for revoke, 58(a). 

— penalized, 50. 

— 's rights (conditional), 49. 

— 's rights (unconditional), 48. 

" — " sometimes means " — 's cards," 47. 

— suggests " playing it out," 49(0, 59(&). 

— takes no part in play, 47. 

— touching cards, 5o(w). 
Touching cards in — , 53. 

Entry at table, 18, 19, 20, 21. 
Error. 

Cards played in — , 44, 54, 55. 

— in dealing, 2j y 28. 

— in declaring, 32, 33, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43. 

— in doubling and redoubling, 37. 

— in honor-score, 17. 

— in trick score, 17. 
Repeated — 's, 43. 

Exposed cards. 

— after the declaration, 54. 
Calling — . See Calling. 

— cannot force renounce, 52. 
Declarer and dummy not liable for — , 53. 

— defined, 51. 






INDEX TO LAWS 143 

Dummy may call attention to — , 49(/). 

— during deal, 27(b). 

— during declaration, 44. 

— may be called several times, 52. 
Faced cards. See Cards. 
Failing. 

— to play as indicated, 56(d). 

— to return to table, 21(b). 
Finesse must not be taken, 59(a). 
First. 

— dealer, 22. 

— legal act of declaration, 29. 

— in room, 18. 

— to play, 18, 22. 

— to withdraw, 19, 20, 21, 23. 
Following suit, 7. 

Forming tables, 18, 19. 
Game(s). 

All — points counted, 12. 

— bonus, 13(b). 

— defined, 1, 12. 
— , how played, 1 
— , how won, 12. 
Thirty points to a — , 12. 
Two — win rubber, 13(a). 
— ,when completed, 12. 

— won by revoke, 57(a), 57(b). 
Giving Information, 61. 

Grand Slam. See Slam. 
Hand. 

— begins with cut, 11. 

— defined, 11. 

Each — played out, 12, 13 (b). 
Laying down — . See Cards. 
One — or more to a game, 12. 
Third — shuffles, 24. 



144 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

Heart (s). 

Rank of — ,4. 

— tricks count eight, 10. 
High. 

— card in drawing and play, 3. 

— : suit in declaration and drawing, 4. 
Higher bid. 

Bid, if not — , is insufficient, 32. 

— defined, 31. 

Highest or lowest. See Calling. 
Honor(s). 

— based on trick values, 15. 

— count as dealt, 14. 

— count in the — score, 14. 

— described, 14. 

— not affected by double, 15, 35. 

— not affected by redouble, 15, 36. 
Only — scored by revoking side, 57(c). 

— score, 17. 

Slams counted as — , 16. 
Undertricks counted as — , 45. 

— values, 15, 35, 36. 
" I arrange," 53. 
Illegitimate declarations, 41. 
Imperfect pack. 

— causes new deal, 28(g). 

— defined, 2. 

" Inadvertently " defined, 42. 
Incorrect pack. 

— causes new deal, 27(e). 

— defined. See Correct. 
Information, 61. 

Initial lead, 5. 
Insufficient bid. 

— also out of turn, 33. 
Bid after — , 32(c), 32(d). 

■ — corrected by maker, 32(a). 



INDEX TO LAWS 145 

— corrected by opponent, 32(b). 

— defined, 32. 

— penalized, 32. 

— waived, 32(c). 
King high in drawing, 3. 
Laying down cards, 47, 59. 
Lead. 

Adversaries — several winning cards, 54(b). 

— by partner of proper leader, 54(a). 
Calling a — . See Calling. 

— defined, 5. 

— during declaration, 44. 
Initial — , 5. 

— of several winning cards, 54(b). 

— out of turn. See Lead out of turn. 

— simultaneously, 54(c). 
Which player — s, 5. 

Lead out of turn, 44, 54. 
Leaving table, 13(c), 20, 21, 58(0- 
Little Slam. See Slam. 
Looking at cards, 26(d), 28, 49. 
Looking at quitted tricks, 8, 61(e). 
Losing rubber, 13(a). 
Low. 

— card in drawing and play, 3. 

— suit in declaration and drawing, 4. 
Making up tables, 18, 19. 

Marked cards, 2. 
Members. 

— draw for partners and deal, 22. 

— leaving tables, 20. 
- — of table, 18, 23. 

Six — make complete table, 18. 
Missing cards, 27(e), 540), 56(c). 
Net points, 17. 
New. 

— cards, 27(e), 28(g), 62. 



146 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

— cut, 25(20. 

— deal. See New deal. 

— pack. See — cards. 

— shuffle, 25(b). 
New deal. 

Compulsory — , 27. 

— for cut omitted, 8(h). 

— for deal out of turn, 28(f). 

— for dealing with wrong pack, 28(1). 

— for faced card, 27(6). 

— for illegal double or redouble, 37(d), 37(e). 

— for imperfect pack, 28(g). 

— for improper number of cards dealt, 27(c). 

— for improper number of cards held, 27(d). 

— for incorrect pack, 27(e). 

— for irregular deal, 27(0). 

— for omitting cut, 28(A). 

— for omitting playing to trick, (54(1). 
Optional — , 28. 

No trump. 

"— " changed to " no bid," 42. 

— defined, 8. 

— honors, 15. 

Rank of — in declaration, 4. 

— tricks count ten, 10. 
Odd tricks. 

— defined, 9. 

— not counted when contract fails, 9. 
— , values, 10. 

— , when counted, 9. 

— > where scored, 10, 17. 
Opponent, 28. 

Out of turn. See Bid out of turn, Lead out of turn. 
Pack(s). (See also Card.) 

All draw from same — , 22. 

Choice of — , 22. 

Correct — . See Correct pack. 



INDEX TO LAWS 147 

Cutting the — , 25. 

Imperfect — . See Imperfect pack. 
Incorrect — . See Correct pack. 
New — . See New. 
One or two — s used, 2. 
Perfect — . See Imperfect pack. 
Same — used, 27, 2%. 
Still — . See Still pack. 
Wrong — dealt, 28(f)- 
Partner(s). 

Consulting — , 60. 
Dealer's — shuffles, 24. 

— defined, 1. 
Drawing for — , 22. 

— first naming suit is declarer, 45. 

— may not cut, deal, shuffle, etc., 24, 25, 26(b). 

— of proper player leads, 54(a). 
Two — constitute a side, 1. 

Pass. 

" Declare " includes " — ," 29. 

— defined, 38. 

Four players — in succession 29. 

— made after declaration ends, 41(c). 

— out of turn, 39, 40. 

Third consecutive — ends declaration, 29. 
Penalty. 

— and consultation, 60. 

— applied. See Penalty applied. 

— counted in honor score, 17. 
Reasonable time for selecting — , 60(g). 
Selecting wrong — , 60(e) f 60(f). 

Penalty applied. 

Bidding errors, 32, 34, 41, 42. 
Breaking up table, 21(b). 
Consultation, 60. 
Contract failure, 9, 45. 
Cut omitted, 28(A). 



148 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

Cutting wrong, 25(b). 

Dealing errors, 27, 28. 

Declaration errors, 32, 34, 37, 40, 41 » 42, 43, 44- 

Doubling errors 37, 41. 

Dummy penalized, 50. 

Exposed cards, 52. 

Failure to play to trick, 54(1). 

Improper information, 61. 

Insufficient bid, 32. 

Leaving table, 13(c), 20, 21. 

Looking at card during deal, 26(d). 

Looking at quitted tricks, 61(c). 

Pass out of turn, 40, 41(c). 

Redoubling errors, 37, 41. 

Repeated errors, 43. 

Revoke, 57. 

Shuffling errors, 24. 

Wrong number of cards held, 27, 56(c). 
Perfect pack. See Imperfect. 
Placing still pack. 24. 
Plain suit. 8. 
Play. 

— described, 1, 5, 46. 

Failing to — as directed, 56 (d). 

Fourth hand — s before second, 54(c). 

— ing highest or lowest. See Calling. 

— ing out of turn, 54. 

— ing out the hand, 49(0, 59 (b). 

— ing to a trick, 5. 

— of declarer and dummy, 53. 
Rank of cards in — , 3. 
Terminating — by agreement, 13(b). 

Player (s). 

— cutting out, 13(a), 23. 

— defined, 18, 22. 
Four — in game, 1. 



INDEX TO LAWS 149 

— leaving tables, 13(c), 20, 21. 
Priority among — , 21, 22, 23. 

Points. 

All game — counted, 12. 

Net — in rubber, 17. 

Scoring — , 17. 

Thirty — to game, 12. 

Total — in rubber, 13(a), 17. 
Priority. 

— among candidates, 18, 19. 

— among members, 20. 

— among players, 21, 22, 23. 
"Protection from revokes." 58(f). 
Quit (ted). 

" — card " defined, 53. 
Looking at — tricks, 8, 61(e). 
Missing cards in — tricks, 27(e). 
Searching — tricks, 27(c), 54O'), 56(c). 
Too few cards in — tricks, 54(7). 
Too many cards in — tricks, 54(/). 

— tricks and the revoke, 56(0), 58. 
"—tricks" defined, 56(a). 

Rank of candidates and players. 19. 20, 21, 22, 23. 
Rank of cards. 

— in drawing, 3. 

— in play, 3. 
Rank of suits. 

— after double or redouble, 35, 36. 

— in declaration, 4. 

— in drawing, 4. 
Redouble. 

— accepted, 37(d). 

— after declaration ends, 37(b), 41(a). 

— before a bid, 37(a). 

Bidding values not increased by — , 36. 
Contract bonus and — , 45. 



150 



NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 



" Declare " includes "— ," 29. 

— defined, 36. 

— doubles double, 36. 

Honors values not increased by — , 15, 36. 
Improper — , 37. 

— multiplies trick values by four, 10, 36. 

— of—, etc., 37(e). 

— of partner's double, 37(e). 

— out of turn, 37. 
Penalties for improper — , 37. 
Revoke and — , 57(6). 

Slam values not increased by — ,36. 
Undertricks and — , 45. 

— when under compulsion to pass, 41(b). 
Refuse (d). 

— defined, 7. 

Dummy calls attention when declarer has — , 48(c). 
Suit — and partner "asks," 58(c). 
Renounce. 

— becomes a revoke, 56. 

— corrected, 58. 

— defined, 7, 55. 

Dummy calls attention to — , 48(c), 49 (h). 
Repeated errors, 43. 
Returning to table, 20, 21. 
Revoke. 

Adversaries take penalty for — , 57(a). 

Adversary — s, 57 (b). 

— avoided, 58. 
Both sides—, 57(c). 
Declarer — s, 57(a). 

— ing declarer cannot score tricks, 57(a). 
Declarer takes two tricks or 50 points for first — , 
57(b). 

— defined, 56. 

Dummy and—, 48(c), 49 W, 540'). 



INDEX TO LAWS 151 

— helps to win contract, 57(a). 57(b). 
Dummy not liable for — , 58(a). 

— on account of card short, 54O'), 56(e). 
Only honors scored by — ing side, 57(c). 

— penalty, 57. 

— penalty does not gain slam, 16, 57(b). 

— penalty not increased by doubling and redoubling, 
57(b). 

"Protection from — ," 58(/). 
Renounce becomes — , 56. 
Searching tricks for — , 54(/), 56(c). 
Time limit of — , 58 (g). 

— when following trick is led to, 56(b). 

— when opponents mix cards, 56(c). 

— when player fails to play as directed, 56(d). 

— when trick is quitted, 56(a). 
Room, first in. 18. 

Rubber. 

Bonus for — , 13(a), 57(b). 
Cutting out at end of — , 2$. 

— defined, 13(a). 
Net points of — , 17. 

Not starting — after specified time, 13(b). 

Scoring unfinished — , 13. 

Total points of — , 13(a), 17. 

Unfinished — , 13. 

When — begins and ends, 13(a). 

— when won, 13. 

" Winning a losing — ," 13(a). 
Same dealer and pack, 27, 28. 
Scoring. 

error in — . See Error. 

— honors, 15-17. 

— revoke, 57. 

— rubber, 13, 17. 

— slams, 16, 17. 



152 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

— tricks, 9, 10, 12, 17. 

— undertricks, 45. 

— unfinished rubber, 13. 

Searching quitted tricks, 27(e), 540), 56(c). 

Seats, choice of, 22. 

Shuffle. 

— after the cut, 25(b). 
— -before deal, 24. 
Cutting after — , 24. 
Dealer may — last, 24. 

— described, 24. 
New — , 25(b). 
Partner may not — , 24. 

Side. 

Either — scores slam, 16. 

Net points of — , 17. 

Total points of — , 13(a), 17. 

Two partners constitute a — , 1. 

Which partner of — is declarer, 45. 

— wins rubber, 13(a). 
Simple honors, 15. 
Slam(s). 

— count as honors, 16, 17. 

Declarer scores — on losing contract, 16. 

— defined, 16. 

— not affected by double, 35. 

— not affected by redouble, 36. 

— not earned by revoke penalty, 16, 57(b). 

— scored by either side, 16. 
Value of — , 16, 35, 36. 

Soiled cards, 2. 
Spade (s). 

Rank of — ,4. 

— tricks count nine, 10. 
Specified time, stopping at, 13(6). 
Still pack. 

— defined, 24. 



INDEX TO LAWS 153 

— , how shuffled, 24. 

Missing cards found in — , 2j(e). 
Stopping rubber at specified time, 13 (b). 
Substitutes, 13(c), 21(0). 
Substituting cards, 58(b). 
Sufficient cards, 58(6). 
Sufficient (bid). See Insufficient bid. 
Suits (s). 

Each — has thirteen cards, 2. 

Following — , 7. 

Four — in correct pack, 2. 

Xo trump regarded as — , 4. 

Only three — may be forbidden, 44. 

Plain — , 8. 

Rank of — in declaration, 4. 

Rank of — in drawing, 4. 

Rank of — not affecting by doubling or redoubling, 
35, 36. 
Table (s). 

Breaking up a — , 21(b). 

Candidates at — , 18, 19. 

Complete — , 18. 

Cutting out of — , 23. 

Entry at — , 18, 19, 20, 21. 

Leaving — , 13(c), 20, 21. 

Making up — , 18, 19. 

Returning to — , 20, 21. 

Six members make complete — , 18. 
Termination of rubber at specified time, 13(b). 
Torn cards, 2. 
Total points. 

Greatest — wins rubber, 13(a). 

— . how reckoned, 17. 
Touching a card, 50(11), 53. 
Trick (s). 

Claiming and conceding — , 59. 

— defined, 6. 



154 NEW AUCTION BRIDGE 

— gained by revoke, 57(a), 57(6). 

Giving information regarding winner of — , 61(b). 

Leading to — , 5. 

Looking at quitted — , 8, 61(e). 

— not played to, 54(f). 
Number of — in book, 45. 
Odd — . See Odd tricks. 
Omitting playing to — , 54(0- 
Order of playing to — , 6. 
Playing to — makes revoke, 56(b). 

— quitted, 56(a). 

Quitted — containing fewer than four cards, 54 (i). 
Quitted — containing more than four cards, 54(7). 
Quitting — establishes revoke, 56(a). 

— required to be won or lost. See Win or lose 

trick. 

— score, 9, 10, 12, 17. 

— scored only by declarer, 9. 
Searching — , 27(e), 54(/)> 56(c). 
Slams and — , 16. 
Trumping a — , 8. 
Under — . See Undertricks. 

— values, 10, 35, 36. 

When — quitted makes revoke, 56(a), 58(b). 
Who leads to — , 5. 
Winning a — , 8. 

Trump (s). 

— defined, 8. 
No — . See No trump. 

— values, 10. 

— wins trick, 8. 
Undertricks. 

— counted as honors, 17, 45. 

— defined, 45. 
Score for — , 45. 

Unfinished rubber, 13. 
Vacancies at tables, 19, 20, 21. 



INDEX TO LAWS 155 

Values. 

Bidding — , 31, 35, 36. 
Honor --, 15, 35, 36. 

— of suits. See Rank. 
Slam — , 16, 35, 36. 
Trick — , 10, 35, 36. 

Win or lose trick, 54(W, 540), 56(d), 61(6). 
Winning. 

— contract, 9, 45. 

— game, 12. 

" — losing rubber," 13(a). 

— rubber, 13. 

— " the choice/' 22. 

— the trick, 8. 

Withdrawing from tables, 13(c), 20, 21. 
Wrong. 

— dealer deals, 28(f). 

— pack dealt, 28(1). 

— penalty, 60(c), 6o(/). 



